While empathizing with the family’s suffered loss, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the family of a 29 year old State College man who was shot and killed by borough police, who were serving a mental health warrant in 2019. Reportedly, Federal Judge Matthew Brann wrote that the officers who went to the home of Osaze Osagie were not mental health professionals and could not be held liable for failing to be something they were not, and a death they did not cause. In March of 2019, the family of Osagie requested that their son be involuntarily committed to receive mental health treatment. When officers arrived their son charged them with a knife and was shot and killed as a result. In November of 2020, Osagie’s father filed the lawsuit seeking unspecified damages. The lawsuit had claimed wrongful death, excessive force and assault and battery. Reportedly the family has not yet decided if it will appeal the judge’s decision.
