Tacoma to pay nearly $15M to man paralyzed in road-rage shooting | Tacoma News Tribune

Tacoma has agreed to a $14. 9 million settlement with Jay Barbour, a restaurant owner who was left paralyzed after a road-rage shooting in June 2022. The shooter, Mason Taylor, had been investigated by police just days prior for a different shooting but was allowed to keep a gun. Barbour's attorney, Mark Lindquist, argued that police acted negligently by leaving the firearm on the curb for Taylor's brother to retrieve. Taylor later pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and received a ten-year prison sentence.

The settlement, which was initially sought at $23 million, highlights significant concerns about police protocols and public safety. Following the incident, the Tacoma Police Department terminated one officer and suspended a sergeant involved. This case underscores the broader issues of police responsibility and gun safety in the community.