(WXYZ) — A woman is filing a $25 million lawsuit against the city of Detroit and one of its police officers over an October 2025 shooting.
Tracey Allen and her attorney, Maurice Davis, spoke to the media this morning.
VIDEO: Watch the press conference in its entirety, and our latest report below
Allen was originally stopped for traffic violations. She says that during the traffic stop, she told officers she was scared and asked for a supervisor. Instead, a backup officer showed up before she says she was pepper-sprayed and shot six times.
VIDEOS: Watch our previous coverage on the shooting below
"I asked God to protect me as I was getting pulled over," Allen said. "I didn't even understand why I was getting pulled over...I didn't know I was hit until I got to the light."
Video from Concord and Outer Drive shows Allen being boxed in by DPD officers, then shot while driving away. Both are policy violations, per Chief Todd Bettison, and part of the reason for the $25 million lawsuit. Allen is seeking damages for physical and emotional trauma, medical expenses, and loss of income.
Allen showed the media her injuries from the October shooting.
"The four in my (left) arm went in and out," she said. She was also shot once in her right arm and once in her leg.
The defendants are being sued for the use of excessive and unconstitutionally deadly force and maintaining a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing.
"The officer chose to use excessive force," her attorney said. "And that choice led to my client being shot six times in various places throughout her body. The law requires accountability and answers. This case is about more than Tracey Allen, it's about sending a message that violence against innocent citizens must stop. Police officers, they are entrusted with enormous power, and that power comes with responsibility. When that power is abused, the courts are the proper place to ensure that accountability."
Initially, while on scene, Chief Bettison said Tracey refused to give her license and registration, initiating the pursuit. Later, he backtracked on that account of what happened.
“We do not shoot at moving vehicles unless it is an extreme circumstance where life is in jeopardy," Chief Bettison said in October. “She did give her license, she did give her registration, her insurance was on her phone...if a supervisor had been called, I don't think it would've went this way."
That officer was placed on leave for policy violations. They were first suspended with pay, then without after an early November Police Commissioner's Meeting.
We contacted DPD before today's press conference; they told us they do not comment on pending litigation.
