May 18, 2009 5:51 pm US/Central
Jury To Hear Conflicting Stories In Fong Lee Case
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
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Jurors are expected to see a school surveillance video and to decide for themselves whether it shows if Lee was armed or not. (File)
CBS
A jury will prepare to hear two conflicting stories this week about the shooting death of Fong Lee by a Minneapolis police officer.
A jury was selected concluded on Monday in federal court in St. Paul. The opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Lawyers for Lee's family plan to argue in their wrongful death lawsuit the 19-year-old was unarmed when he was shot eight times by Officer Jason Andersen during a foot chase outside a school in 2006.
A grand jury cleared Andersen in the shooting. Andersen said Lee had a gun when he ran from him after he approached Lee in a school parking lot. A gun was found next to Lee's body.
Lee's family attorney claims the gun found next to his body was planted -- something police deny.
Lawyers for the city plan to tell the jury that Lee was armed and that Andersen's actions were justified.
Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan strongly denies any officer planted a gun and said he looks forward to proving that in court.
Jurors are expected to see a school surveillance video that captures part of the brief foot chase between Andersen and Lee. They will decide for themselves whether it shows if Lee was armed or not.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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