FAMILY OF MAN KILLED IN DRUG BUST FILES SUIT

The family of a man killed by police in a soured drug bust has filed
a federal lawsuit against the city of Pasadena and the undercover
narcotics officers involved.

The lawsuit alleges six plainclothes police officers were negligent
and violated the constitutional rights of Empra TaDar Moore when they
jumped from an unmarked car brandishing guns, then fired at Moore's
moving vehicle.

Moore, 23, was shot seven times as he drove away from Sonny's Food
Store at 204 S. Richey on Jan. 6, 1999. His Chevrolet Tahoe continued
to travel north on Richey Street, across the Highway 225 overpass,
until it struck a cement truck that was stopped at a traffic light.
Robert Moore, Moore's younger brother, was a passenger in the car. He
was shot twice, but recovered.

Attorneys for Edith Moore, Moore's mother, said the brothers were not
armed and did nothing to provoke a confrontation.

They contend the officers used excessive force in attempting to stop
the vehicle, since neither brother posed an immediate threat of
danger.

But officials said the shots were fired when suspects fleeing the
drug bust tried to run over the undercover officers with their cars.

The officers were cleared of wrongdoing by a Harris County grand jury.

David Benson, spokesman for the city of Pasadena, declined comment
because the city has not yet been served with a copy of the suit,
which was filed last week.

The lawsuit does not confirm or deny that the brothers were at the
scene to buy drugs.

The family contends Moore had followed Keithen Briscoe, a college
friend, to the convenience store parking lot after stopping for a
snack at a nearby eatery.

According to the suit, Moore's Chevrolet Tahoe and Briscoe's Ford
Escort parked side-by-side facing the store near a Lincoln Town Car.
An unknown man, who is now believed to have been a police officer,
got out of the Lincoln and sat down in the front seat of the Escort,
the suit states.

Moments later, an unmarked vehicle came speeding out of the alley
next to the convenience store and stopped in back of the Escort.
According to the suit, several unidentified men jumped from the
unmarked vehicle brandishing guns.

At that time, the Lincoln sped out of the parking lot and the men
began shooting.

Moore then backed out into the street in an attempt to drive away,
but six officers began firing at the Tahoe, killing Moore.

The family is seeking unspecified damages.