The family of Timothy Michael Randall, 29, who was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting in Sept. 2022, is suing Rusk County and Rusk County Sheriff Shane Iverson. Timothy's brother, Doug Randall, his mother, Wendy Tippett and lead attorney Joseph Oxman outside the Federal Courthouse in Tyler Nov. 7. 

In minutes, one East Texas family’s life turned upside down.

The family of Timothy Michael Randall, 29, who was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting in September 2022, is suing Rusk County and Rusk County Sheriff Shane Iverson.

“You shouldn’t be pulled over for a traffic violation, and in less than two minutes, you’re not here anymore,” Randall’s mother, Wendy Tippett, said. “That should not happen.”

Randall’s friends and family gathered outside the Federal Courthouse in Tyler Nov. 7 where Joseph Oxman, the lead attorney for the family, announced intentions to sue Rusk County and Iverson for false arrest, false detention, excessive force, supervisorial liability, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and wrongful death.

Oxman said neither the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department nor the Texas Rangers have released the body cam video or dashcam video of the incident.

“It has been over one year, and nothing has been released to the public,” Oxman said.

A report from the Texas Attorney General’s Office states Randall was unarmed when he was shot by a Rusk County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The report also says that Randall refused to comply with the deputy’s orders and resisted arrest, leading to a struggle.

The report states Randall broke free and stood up while the deputy was in a “tactically compromised position on the ground.” The deputy then fired the handgun.

Randall was stopped by Iverson for a traffic violation that should have ended in a ticket but escalated into an act of deadly force, Oxman said. Randall’s attorney and family say he was unarmed and didn’t possess anything to justify the use of deadly force.

“Their silence was the loudest thing that they offered us. So now we’re going to knock at the door,” Doug Randall, Timothy’s brother, said.

Last year, a grand jury no-billed the deputy in this case, which means they chose not to pursue charges against him.