Video: Keeton Family Lawyer Speaks About Suit

ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – The attorney for the family of a Monroe county man killed in an October drug raid says there are some troubling questions surrounding the drug raid that led to the fatal shooting.

Tupelo attorney Jim Waide filed a civil suit Monday on behalf of Ricky Keeton’s heirs.

Keeton was shot and killed after Monroe county officers were informed of possible drug possession and raided his home.

The suit alleges that the information about drugs and money in Keeton’s home was false, and that former investigator Eric Sloan acted unlawfully.

“Mr. Keeton is not the type of person you would have thought of as being a drug dealer or a criminal. He’s been a plant manager, and a very well liked person. And for what reason did they undertake this search, especially a no-knock search. They had a no-knock search warrant at 1 o’clock in the morning. And how well did the sheriff’s department know Mr. Keeton, and what was their relationship.”

The lawyer for the deputies, Tony Farese,said there was no evidence of corruption and that the officers were acting on information provided by an informant.

He says officers fired at Keeton, only after he was spotted with a gun and fired at law enforcement officers.

That weapon turned out to be a pellet gun.