The family of Jarrel Garris, a Black man tragically shot and killed by a New Rochelle police detective last year, has filed a lawsuit in state court against Detective Steven Conn, accusing him of “unreasonably reckless escalation” during what began as a minor offense.

The lawsuit, submitted in late September, also names the city of New Rochelle as a defendant.

Garris’ parents allege that Conn employed unnecessary force in handling the situation, which arose from accusations of stolen produce, and contend that their son’s death was avoidable.

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The incident occurred in July 2023 when Conn arrived at the scene where two other officers, Kari Bird and Gabrielle Chavarry, were already conversing with Garris a short distance away from the New Rochelle Farms supermarket, where the theft allegation had originated.

Witness accounts indicate that Conn’s immediate declaration of “You’re under arrest” intensified the situation, ultimately leading to Garris’ detention and a physical altercation with Officer Bird. The lawsuit emphasizes that Garris was undergoing a “mental health crisis” at the time of the confrontation.

An autopsy later revealed that he had PCP and marijuana metabolites in his system.

As tensions escalated during the struggle, Conn, who is white, shot Garris while he and Bird were grappling on the ground. However, an investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation, concluded last month, determined that Conn was justified in using lethal force, claiming that Garris had his hand on Bird’s gun during the scuffle.

The family’s lawsuit seeks accountability for what they describe as an excessive and reckless response to a situation that could have been managed without resorting to deadly force.