The family of a man killed in a January encounter with San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging excessive force and seeking more than $30 million in damages.
Allegations, department response
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Riverside by attorney Dale K. Galipo, centers on the Jan. 22 shooting that left 23-year-old Jaque Rabon of Loma Linda dead. Rabon, who had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in a firearms case, was located by deputies in a Riverside shopping center at Tyler Street and Magnolia Avenue, according to a video released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies who were not in uniform exited unmarked vehicles and ordered Rabon to raise his hands, the department said. Rabon ran while holding what his family described as a fanny pack. The Sheriff’s Department said Rabon “manipulated” a bag around his body as he fled, and deputies opened fire. The department’s narrative says Rabon was shot three times and fell; deputies say he continued reaching toward the bag and that all three fired.
“No one sees him with a gun,” Galipo said in an interview. “How do you justify another 20 shots with someone visibly unarmed? It has to be an immediate threat of death. To me, it’s a case of complete, contagious fire and overreaction.”
Claims and investigation
The lawsuit contends deputies used excessive force, alleging Rabon was unarmed and running from deputies when he was shot. Galipo told reporters that deputies fired at Rabon at least 20 times after he fell. The family’s complaint seeks more than $30 million in damages on behalf of Rabon’s parents, Tyesha Moody and Robert Rabon.
State authorities are reviewing the case. The California Department of Justice, which investigates all fatal shootings of unarmed civilians by law enforcement, has opened an inquiry to determine whether the deputies acted lawfully. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it has cooperated fully with the DOJ investigation.
Local implications
The lawsuit draws attention to several issues likely to resonate across San Bernardino County: the use of unmarked vehicles and plainclothes deputies in searches, the sequence and amount of force used in a public space, and transparency around police video and accounts of fatal encounters. The case could also have financial implications for the county if the suit proceeds to settlement or judgment.
- Who: Family of Jaque Rabon, attorney Dale K. Galipo, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Justice.
- What: Federal lawsuit alleging excessive force; DOJ investigation into deputies’ conduct.
- Where: Shooting occurred in a Riverside shopping center at Tyler Street and Magnolia Avenue; suit filed in federal court in Riverside.
- When: Shooting occurred Jan. 22, 2026; lawsuit filed Aug. 25, 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Victim | Jaque Rabon, 23, of Loma Linda |
| Alleged actions | Ran from plainclothes deputies; family says carrying fanny pack |
| Deputy account | Rabon “manipulated” bag; deputies fired when he reached for it |
| Legal action | Federal lawsuit seeking more than $30 million; DOJ investigating |
What’s next
The DOJ review will evaluate whether deputies’ use of force complied with state law. The federal suit will proceed on its civil claims independent of any criminal determination. Both the legal process and the state inquiry are likely to take months, and the family’s lawsuit could prompt additional public records disclosures or depositions that provide more detail about the encounter.
The filing underscores persistent tensions around policing in the region and foreshadows further scrutiny of how the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department conducts searches and handles encounters that escalate to deadly force. Residents seeking updates should watch for statements from county officials, court filings in the federal case, and public releases from the California Department of Justice as the investigations continue.
