--- title: "Monroy Verdict: Jury Awards $13.1M in Police Shooting" meta: "og:description": "Riverside County jury awards $13.1M to the family of Jeffrey Monroy, an unarmed man fatally shot by a deputy while fleeing. Read the case details and verdict." "og:title": "Monroy Verdict: Jury Awards $13.1M in Police Shooting" description: "Riverside County jury awards $13.1M to the family of Jeffrey Monroy, an unarmed man fatally shot by a deputy while fleeing. Read the case details and verdict." --- February 6, 2026 # **Monroy Verdict: Jury Awards $13.1M in Police Shooting** Riverside County jury awards $13.1M to the family of Jeffrey Monroy, an unarmed man fatally shot by a deputy while fleeing. Read the case details and verdict. [**Personal Injury**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/monroy-verdict-jury-awards-131m-in-police-shooting/jury-verdict/category/personal-injury) [**Wrongful Death**](https://exlitem.com/jury-verdict/monroy-verdict-jury-awards-131m-in-police-shooting/jury-verdict/category/wrongful-death) ### **Outline** Author ![](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/profile_images/shared_image_1.webp) **Sohini Chakraborty****Sohini Chakraborty is a lawyer, with over two years of experience in legal research and analysis. She specializes in working closely with expert witnesses, offering critical support in preparing legal research and detailed case studies.** ![Article Image](https://media.jurimatic.com/cdn-cgi/image/q=70/images/Longina_Perez.webp) On August 7, 2020, Jeffrey Alexander Monroy was assisting his father with pool repairs in Rancho Mirage when he left the site to find a phone. Residents reported a "suspicious person" in black clothing, leading to an encounter with Corporal Ruben Perez. As Jeffrey and his brother fled, Corporal Perez fired five shots into Jeffrey's back without issuing verbal warnings. The family alleged Jeffrey was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting. Following a trial in the U.S. District Court, a jury found that the officer used excessive force and awarded $13.1 million in total damages, assigning 70% of the negligence to the officer. ## **Case Background** On August 7, 2020, Jeffrey Alexander Monroy spent his afternoon helping his father, David Monroy, repair a pool at a home in Rancho Mirage, California. Jeffrey eventually decided to head home and began walking through the neighborhood. He wore a black bandana and black clothing while he searched for a phone to call his brother for a ride. Local residents noticed him and contacted the police to report a "suspicious person," though they did not report any crimes. Jeffrey eventually borrowed a phone and waited for his brother near Andrews Circle. ### **Cause** The legal dispute centered on a fatal confrontation between Jeffrey Monroy and Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Ruben Perez. When Corporal Perez arrived at the location, a short encounter occurred. Jeffrey and his brother attempted to flee from the officer. During the chase, Corporal Perez drew his weapon and fired multiple times, striking Jeffrey. ### **Injury** Jeffrey Monroy suffered several gunshot wounds to his back. These injuries proved fatal, and he died at the scene shortly after the shooting took place. ### **Damages Sought** The Monroy family sought compensatory and punitive damages for the loss of their son. Their legal claims included survival damages for Jeffrey’s pain and suffering prior to his death, as well as wrongful death damages to address the emotional and financial toll on his parents. ## **Key Arguments and Proceedings** ### **Legal Representation** **Plaintiff(s):** Longina Perez Monroy | David Monroy · **Counsel for Plaintiff(s):** Neama Rahmani | Houman Sayaghi | Kaveh Navab · **Experts for Plaintiff(s):** [John Gardiner](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/John-Gardiner/1531065) | [Roger Clark](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Roger-Clark/1515093) **Defendant(s):** County of Riverside | Corporal Ruben Perez · **Counsel for Defendant(s):** Eugene P. Ramirez | Steven A. McNicholl | Deann Rivard · **Experts for Defendant(s):** [James Borden](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/James-Borden/1549097) | [Rod Englert](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Rod-Englert/1572052) | [Swathi Kode](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Swathi-Kode/1570132) | [Roger Clark](https://expertwitnessprofiler.com/expert-witness/Roger-Clark/1515093) ## **Key Arguments or Remarks by Counsel** ### **Claims** The Monroy family argued that Corporal Perez used excessive and deadly force against an unarmed man who was running away. They contended that Jeffrey had struggled with mental illness and likely experienced a health crisis during the encounter, which should have been apparent to the deputy. The family's legal team argued the officer failed to give verbal warnings or commands before he fired five shots into Jeffrey’s back. Additionally, they alleged the County of Riverside maintained a system that failed to discipline deputies for constitutional violations. ### **Defense** The County of Riverside and Corporal Perez denied all allegations of liability. They maintained that the officer’s actions were justified given the circumstances of the encounter. The defense argued that the force used was necessary and claimed they lacked sufficient information at the time to confirm Jeffrey’s mental health status or the specific sequence of events as described by the Plaintiffs. ## **Jury Verdict** On December 23, 2025, the jury reached a verdict in favor of the Monroy family. **Liability and Negligence** The jury determined that Corporal Ruben Perez used excessive force against Jeffrey Monroy. They also found that both the officer and Jeffrey shared some level of responsibility for the tragic outcome. The jury assigned 70% of the negligence to Corporal Perez and 30% to Jeffrey Monroy. **Damages Awarded** The jury awarded a total of $13,100,000 in damages. The breakdown of the award included: - **Survival Damages:** $100,000 for Jeffrey’s pre-death pain and suffering and $4,000,000 for his loss of life. - **Wrongful Death Damages:** $4,500,000 to Longina Perez Monroy and $4,500,000 to David Monroy for their emotional loss. The jury also addressed whether the officer acted with malice or reckless disregard. This verdict concluded a long-standing legal battle regarding the 2020 shooting. 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