Local Man Shot After Reporting Neighbor, Now Sues City in Shocking Turn of Events

CHANDLER, Ariz. — A lawsuit has been filed against the City of Chandler by a man who was left paralyzed due to police gunfire during an incident in his neighborhood.

Mark Trujillo’s lawyers announced on Wednesday that they are initiating a federal lawsuit stemming from the events of March 3, 2024. The incident arose after Trujillo reported threats made against his daughter by a neighbor, later identified as Luciano Gutierrez.

Responding officers established a perimeter around Gutierrez’s house while attempting to communicate with him. As the situation escalated, Gutierrez allegedly brandished a firearm and discharged multiple shots. This prompted police to return fire.

Trujillo claims he was in his own driveway when he was struck by a bullet, asserting that he was not the intended target. According to the lawsuit, this gunfire severed his spinal cord, leading to his paralysis.

Body-worn camera footage from the incident captured an officer’s realization that an “innocent” individual had been hit shortly after the shooting occurred.

The lawsuit charges the city with inadequate training of its officers in assessing threats. “This was an unjustified and unconstitutional use of force against an innocent man,” stated Richard Lyons, an attorney for Trujillo.

In June 2024, Chandler police published a video acknowledging that they mistook the unarmed neighbor for Gutierrez, which resulted in the shooting. As of now, the Chandler police department has refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.