St. Louis Settled Wrongful Death Lawsuit for $1.7 Million
The city reached a settlement with the family of Cortez Bufford regarding a 2019 fatal police shooting.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The family of 24-year-old Cortez Bufford has agreed to a $1.7 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of St. Louis and Officer Lucas Roethlisberger. The case stemmed from a 2019 shooting that occurred near a south St. Louis BP gas station.
Why it matters
This settlement resolves a high-profile legal battle following a fatal encounter between local police and a civilian. It compensates the family for a loss that occurred during a 2019 police pursuit.
The $1.7 million settlement is currently awaiting approval from a federal judge. The agreement allocates nearly $1 million directly to the family of Cortez Bufford, with the remaining balance designated for legal fees.
The players
Cortez Bufford
He was a 24-year-old individual who was fatally shot by police in 2019.
Lucas Roethlisberger
He is a police officer who was named as a defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Bufford family.
City of St. Louis
The municipality was a named defendant in the civil litigation regarding the fatal police shooting.
The details
Officer Lucas Roethlisberger shot and killed Bufford after chasing him through an alleyway in south St. Louis. The family initiated the legal action in 2020, following Bufford's previous 2015 litigation against multiple officers regarding civil rights violations.
Timeline
In 2015, Cortez Bufford sued multiple officers for civil rights violations.
On December 13, 2019, Officer Lucas Roethlisberger shot and killed Cortez Bufford.
The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city in 2020.
The settlement was reported on September 24, 2026.
Legal Context
This settlement marks the second time Bufford has engaged in major litigation against local police, extending the pattern set by his 2015 civil rights lawsuit. Such cases are frequently monitored as part of the broader legal environment regarding municipal liability in St. Louis.
The resolution of this lawsuit concludes years of local litigation regarding the actions of a specific officer. Residents and community members may note this financial outcome as the city closes the case file in federal court.
The takeaway
This settlement provides a financial conclusion to a case that has spanned nearly seven years of legal proceedings. It underscores the ongoing scrutiny surrounding police-involved shootings and the subsequent civil liabilities cities face.
Further reading
For more information on legal oversight in the region, visit St. Louis Law Enforcement.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
