Axeel Melendez Seeks $176 Million From Pima County After Swatting Response Left Him Paralyzed
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 4
Axeel Melendez Seeks $176 Million From Pima County After Swatting Response Left Him Paralyzed
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 4
Summary
$176 million is being demanded by 24-year-old Axeel Melendez and his mother in a notice of claim against the Pima County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Chris Nanos, a first step toward a lawsuit.
April 10 deputies allegedly opened fire after smashing a window at the family's home during a response to a fake emergency call, leaving Melendez partially paralyzed with a spinal cord injury, broken ribs and a broken leg.
His lawyer says the warning signs were clear: the initial report came through non-emergency line 311, used an out-of-state area code and mispronounced Melendez's name.
Before the raid, Melendez had called 911 to report a hacker's ransom threat and possible swatting risk, but deputies allegedly ignored that warning and treated the call as real.
The case centers on whether law enforcement failed to use safeguards against swatting, a prank tactic that sends armed officers to an innocent person's address.