BELLAIRE, Texas – Robbie Tolan and his family settled their federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Bellaire just as jury selection was about to begin Tuesday. Court documents show Bellaire will pay Tolan $110,000 to settle the case. A Bellaire police officer shot Tolan in his front yard seven years ago.
"I'm satisfied that I get to move on and tell my story," Tolan said as he left court. "We need to continue to work to affect change. Until that happens, it's going to keep happening. Young black men, unarmed, are going to keep getting shot until we do something about it."
Tolan said he will make a difference through the Robbie Tolan Foundation. He and his mother plan to write books.
Marian Tolan, Tolan's mother, said, "Though I still have my son, I've had to watch his dreams and a part of his spirit die. We've given up so much as a family to get a chance at justice. A chance at peace. A chance at being whole again."
As veteran Bellaire Police officer, Jeffrey Cotton, left court Tuesday, he said, "I'm just glad it's over."
Cotton had said he believed Tolan was driving a stolen car and reaching for a weapon when Cotton fired his weapon. He was acquitted of criminal charges in district court.
Tolan's attorney, Benjamin Crump, said this should never have happened.
"Nobody can call him a thug," Crump said. "No police union can try to defame his name or character. He has no criminal history. He comes from a good family."