Saint Jean v. Altoona, Alabama, City of et al

On January 6, 2025, Marcus Saint Jean, a 23-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by Altoona, Alabama police officer Michael Turner during a traffic stop for an alleged broken taillight. Turner claimed Saint Jean reached for a weapon, but dashboard and bystander video footage showed Saint Jean with empty hands raised and complying with commands. No weapon was recovered at the scene. The family filed a federal wrongful death and civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Officer Turner, Police Chief David Long, and the City of Altoona. The complaint alleged excessive force, unconstitutional seizure, supervisory failure to intervene, and municipal liability for persistent failures to train and discipline officers. The incident triggered immediate protests in Altoona and gained national media attention after the video was released.

In April 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama denied Officer Turner’s motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, ruling that a reasonable jury could find the force excessive. The court allowed the excessive force and municipal liability claims to proceed to trial. A trial date has been set for October 2026, while the parties continue court-ordered mediation.

Whether Officer Turner’s use of deadly force was objectively unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment; whether the officer is entitled to qualified immunity; whether the City of Altoona maintained an official custom or practice of condoning excessive force and failed to properly train and supervise its officers.

The case intensified statewide demands for police accountability and contributed to the introduction of a bipartisan bill in the Alabama legislature seeking to narrow qualified immunity protections. Community organizations used the case as a catalyst for advocating independent prosecutors in police shooting cases. The released footage also prompted the Altoona City Council to approve funding for mandatory de-escalation training and body-worn cameras for all patrol officers.