Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr's family seeks justice after deadly shooting

Family of slain Marine plans to sue county
March 2, 2012
An attorney hired by the family of Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. said the family plans to file a claim against the county, and a federal suit alleging civil rights violations in the deadly shooting.

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Authorities said the 31-year-old Marine was unarmed.

SAN CLEMENTE – The shooting death of a Camp Pendleton Marine by a sheriff's deputy appears to be headed to court as family members consider filing a federal law suit against the department.

Sheriff's officials have not been forthcoming with details as to how the deadly shooting occurred, and family members of Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. are considering filing claims of wrongful death and civil rights violations against the department, said Brian T. Dunn, an attorney representing the Loggins family.

"We haven't seen a police report, we have not been given any specifics as to what the justification for this shooting was," Dunn said. "There's no conceivable reason for deadly force."

The Feb. 7 shooting in the parking lot of San Clemente High School has baffled relatives, colleagues and friends of the Marine, who was shot down inside his SUV while his two daughters sat in the back seat.

Officials with the Orange County Sheriff's Department said Loggins crashed through a gate of the high school, made several irrational statements as he walked out of his SUV, and ignored the orders of several deputies as he got back into his vehicle.
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