EUCLID, Ohio -- The mother of a man suing Euclid police over the death of her son questioned Monday why the officer put himself in a position that led to the confrontation that took her son's life.

Mary Stewart's statement came at a news conference held outside Euclid City Hall where Stewart and her attorneys announced the filing of a lawsuit against the city, the officer who killed her son and another officer who responded. She underscored a statement made by her attorney that officer Matthew Rhodes had no reason to get into her son Luke Stewart's car.

Rhodes and his partner investigated a call about a suspicious vehicle on March 13 when they found the 23 year old asleep in a car with marijuana and the top of a wine bottle next to him, according to investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

A confrontation ensued and Luke Stewart tried to drive away, and Rhodes was in the car when Stewart started driving.

"If you were afraid, why would you get in?" Mary Stewart said.

(You can watch an archived Facebook Live of the news conference at the bottom of this story.)

The lawsuit says Rhodes punched and used a Taser on Luke Stewart before pulling his pistol and shooting, according to the lawsuit. The officer later told BCI investigators that he shot because he feared his own death in a car crash.

Mary Stewart said her son's children now fear the police.

"But I actually feel that they tortured my baby. He was tortured. That was just torture," she said.

The lawsuit says officers violated Luke Stewart's civil rights in the confrontation. It also says the Euclid Police Department has a pattern and practice of using excessive force against black people and not disciplining its officers for misconduct.

Such claims are notoriously difficult to pursue and prevail upon, but attorney Sarah Gelsomino said pursuing it is important, as Euclid police has a history of unconstitutional behavior.

An email sent to the Euclid mayor and a police department spokesman was not returned Monday. Everybody named as a defendant will have to file an answer to the lawsuit in the coming weeks.

Luke Stewart left behind two children, age 4 and 6. His 4-year-old son, Luke Jr., was at the news conference and said he loves his dad.

Kashonia Jones, the mother of Luke Stewart's children, said at the news conference that "it just hurts.

"My kids don't have their father," she continued. "And it's hurtful. I'm hurt. They're hurt. Everybody's hurt. And it's just sad."

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