Lawsuit claims pattern of abuse by Harnett County deputies

LILLINGTON (WTVD) -- A federal lawsuit filed Wednesday by five Harnett County residents, including the family of a man killed by a law enforcement officer a year ago, claims that deputies engaged in patterns of abuse and multiple violations of civil rights.

The plaintiffs include the family of John David Livingston, a 33-year-old Lillington man who was shot and killed on his front porch last November by a deputy.

The deputy, Nicholas Kehagias, is named as one of the defendants in the new lawsuit.

READ THE ENTIRE LAWSUIT (.pdf)

WATCH: Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats responds


In April, a grand jury declined to indict Kehagias in Livingston's death. He could have faced second-degree murder charges.

Livingston's death followed a fight with two Harnett County deputies who were reportedly looking for another man who had previously resided in the home.

When Livingston told the deputies the man did not live there, and they could not come in the home without a search warrant, authorities kicked in the front door and the fight ensued.

"I mean they didn't have no warrant or nothing," said Jason Livingston, John's brother. "They just busted in his house. This is wrong. Really wrong. People need to know."

Report a Typo