Family of teen fatally shot by police files wrongful death lawsuit

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - The family of a teen shot and killed by police last month has filed a wrongful death suit against the Honolulu Police Department and the city.

Iremamber Sykap, 16, was fatally shot by officers on April 5.

[Read more: Council chair considers action to force release of bodycam videos in fatal police shooting]

Eric Seitz, attorney for the family, said the lawsuit seeks further information into the shooting, including body camera footage and the 911 recordings.

So far, HPD has refused to release the bodycam footage.

At a news conference Friday, Sykap’s sisters also complained that officers have harassed them and repeatedly called the family. They said officers even showed up at the funeral and at the house.

“They’ve been calling grandma and their mom, making threats,” Seitz said.

“They’ve been going by their house and making threats ... that if the other brothers don’t turn themselves in and cooperate with the authorities that they’re going to end up dead as well.”

Just weeks after the shooting, an Oahu grand jury returned an indictment against Mauro Sykap, 21, for robbery and assault. Police are still searching for him.

Mark Sykap, 18, was also indicted for an alleged robbery near the memorial site.

City Prosecutor Steve Alm has said his office is reviewing the case to see if charges will be filed against the three HPD officers who fired their weapons.

If no charges are filed, Alm said the body camera footage will all be released. Alm expects that process to take 30 to 60 days.

But Seitz said he wants the videos turned over sooner.

”We’re going to file for injunctive relief not only to get the records that have not yet been produced, but also to prevent the police from continuing to harass this family,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Honolulu Police Department declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

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