A former police chief and FBI agent told jurors in federal court Wednesday that the paralyzing shooting of an unarmed black man was “totally unreasonable” and there was “no justification.”

Dontrell Stephens is suing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and deputy Adams Lin, who shot Stephens four times, leaving him a paraplegic.

The threat assessment to the deputy’s safety did not justify the shooting, expert witness Melvin Tucker testified.

“There is a crisis in confidence right now” the public has for police, he said. He also criticized Lin’s extra ammunition: It “should be of concern. [It could] indicate an officer has an unreasonable fear of physical harm… [which] can result in very bad decisions.”

Lin’s ensemble included a stun gun, gun, three handcuffs, baton and 73 rounds of ammunition.

Lin pulled Stephens over on Sept. 13, 2013, for darting his bicycle through traffic and forcing a truck to slow to let him pass. Lin pulled him over, intending to give the then-20-year-old a traffic citation. Within four seconds, he shot Stephens four times.

The shooting happened after Stephens left a convenience store. He intended to buy a Mistic fruit drink in a neighborhood west of West Palm Beach, but left empty-handed.

The State Attorney’s Office cleared Lin of any criminal wrongdoing.

Stephens was paralyzed and now uses a wheelchair. Doctors testified that he is unable to walk, incontinent and in chronic pain.

“This is going to plague him his whole life,” said Dr. Craig Lichtblau, who is Stephens’ physician and treated him in the emergency room.

Lin has said he thought Stephens had a gun. Stephens was carrying a broken flip-style cell phone.

Lin said in a video deposition shown to the jurors in federal court Wednesday that Stephens “lunged” at him. He said after Stephens was shot and on the ground, he was “calling for help.”

Lin said he made the decision to shoot because he feared for his safety.

“I’m by myself. He’s not listening to commands, he’s still a threat,” he said.

But Stephens’ lawyers showed frames from the deputy’s dashcam video, one of which they said shows Stephens being shot in the back.

“Where’s the threat?” said attorney Jack Scarola.

Testimony from Lichtblau that Stephens’ was shot in the back came as a surprise to the attorneys for Lin and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office who told jurors in opening arguments that Stephens was shot in the chest and the bullet lodged in his back.

“I feel your pain, getting this at the last minute,” U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer told the lawyers. “I understand you’re just hearing this for the first time.”

Scarola will be asking the eight-person jury to award damages to Stephens in the civil trial.

Although he submitted medical bills for $1.8 million so far, the two sides agreed to $1.5 million in medical bills. In addition, experts testified Stephens will need nearly $5 million for medical care until age 70. Stephens has a decreased lifespan because of the injuries.

If they are successful, and the award is greater than $200,000, they must seek approval from the Florida Legislature because the Sheriff’s Office is protected from sovereign immunity.

Stephens, who has not been in court, is expected to testify Thursday.

Lin is also expected to testify in the trial.

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