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Jury deliberates in civil trial involving CMPD stun gun death

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The jury will resume deliberations at the federal courthouse Thursday morning in the case centered on that second Taser shot fired by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Officer Michael Forbes.

Channel 9 spotted Forbes leaving the courthouse Wednesday night after jurors deliberated late, mulling the evidence in the civil case against him.

Jurors are working to decide if Forbes used excessive force when he shocked 21-year-old Lareko Williams twice with a Taser in July 2011.

Williams' family is suing Forbes in the deadly incident.

Forbes was answering a 911 call about an assault that night at the Woodlawn Road Light Rail Station.

Police said they received reports that Williams was beating and choking his girlfriend.

Forbes fired his Taser when Williams tried to leave the scene, according to testimony.

Forbes then fired again at Williams, who died hours later at the hospital.

Williams' family believes there was no reason for Forbes to shoot him with a Taser twice because they say Williams was already on the ground.

But Forbes told the court he fired the second shot because he felt threatened.

CMPD pulled those Tasers off the streets after Williams' death.

The city spent almost $2 million to buy newer, safer models.

Officers spent months training on the new and improved X2 Taser model, which comes with several safety features.

The shock only lasts five seconds no matter how long the officer holds the Taser.

But Williams' family said then that new and improved model came too late to save their son.
 

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