Marshall v. Turner et al

On November 12, 2025, John Marshall, a 29-year-old African American man, was driving in Brookhaven, Georgia, when Officer James Turner and other officers initiated a traffic stop for an alleged broken taillight. The encounter escalated after Marshall questioned the stop. Body camera footage captured a struggle during which Officer Turner fired two shots, striking Marshall in the back and causing permanent paralysis. Marshall survived and filed a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Turner, Officer Lopez, and the city, alleging excessive force, false arrest, and denial of medical care. The officers asserted that Marshall resisted and claimed qualified immunity. The shooting ignited widespread protests and demands for police accountability. As of mid-2026, the district court denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on qualified immunity, allowing the excessive force claims to proceed. A federal criminal civil rights investigation is also underway.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia denied the officers’ motion for qualified immunity, ruling that a reasonable jury could find the force excessive. The civil trial is set for late 2026. No criminal charges have been filed as of June 2026, but the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into potential violations of 18 U.S.C. § 242.

Whether Officer Turner’s use of deadly force was objectively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment; whether the officers are entitled to qualified immunity; and whether the city maintains a policy or custom of inadequate training that caused the constitutional violation.

The case intensified national debates on police use of force, racial profiling, and qualified immunity. It prompted local reforms including mandatory de-escalation training and a 48-hour body camera release policy. Advocacy groups referenced Marshall v. Turner in legislative efforts to restrict qualified immunity and enhance civilian oversight.