Southland : Family Offered ‘Seven Figures’ in Suit Over Man’s Shooting by CHP

The state today made an offer in “seven figures” to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of a black Muslim shot to death in 1986 by a California Highway Patrol officer, a lawyer for the family said. Neither Johnnie Cochran, the family’s lawyer, nor state attorneys would say specifically how much was offered.

Yusef Bilal died after he was shot three times in the back by CHP Officer Bruce Moats on March 18, 1986. His brother filed a wrongful death suit against the state after the district attorney’s office chose not to prosecute. The suit, which was scheduled to go to trial today, claims that Bilal was unarmed and that his civil rights were violated when he was shot to death after he was stopped for allegedly running a red light. Moats, who continues to work as a CHP officer, maintains that Bilal scuffled with him and that he fired in self-defense.