BALTIMORE — The family of a man killed in July during an encounter with a group of squeegee people downtown is planning to sue.
On Friday, the Snyder Law Group sent Baltimore City a notice of their intent to file a lawsuit against Mayor Brandon Scott, the Baltimore Police Department and Commissioner Michael Harrison, as well as State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby and her office.
Timothy Reynolds, 48, was shot to death July 7 at the intersection of East Conway Street and Light Streets.
Attorney Michael B. Snyder, who represents the Reynolds family, believes if aggressive squeegee groups were arrested or removed from corners, Reynolds would still be alive.
“People are now afraid to travel to Baltimore City,” said Snyder. “We have people that are being injured, we have property that is being vandalized.”
Initial reports indicated that it was Reynolds who first swung a bat at a squeegee kid, before he was wounded.
Court charging documents say there is video evidence to dispute that.
Investigators believe Reynolds was actually walking away from the group, when they began to follow and surround him.
RELATED: Court docs describe video showing man walking away before deadly squeegee encounter
It was at that point when Reynolds reportedly swung the bat to try and fend them off.
Reynolds ended up being hit in the head with a rock, disorienting him.
One member in the group then allegedly pulled a gun, and according to his lawyers, shot Reynolds in the back, killing him.
Court documents say the gunman was seen on camera running away from the scene, changing his shirt.
Detectives located multiple witnesses who helped identify the alleged shooter, who turned out to be just 15-years-old.
MORE: 15-year-old charged in murder of man who confronted squeegee workers
The teen, whose name has not been released, was arrested and charged on July 14, one week following the deadly incident.
Lawyers for the teen maintain his actions were in self defense.
Snyder accuses city leaders of acting "with gross negligence, failing to protect the citizens, residents and visitors of Baltimore from a known danger."
WMAR-2 News reporter Brittney Verner asked Snyder about the allegations of Reynolds confronting the group with a bat first.
"This as an individual, if you were in a car accident, and somebody damaged your car, you pull over and try to get that person to, you know, pay for your damages, you would want information on who that person is, " said Snyder.
"Not with a bat," Verner replied.
"Taking the taking the bat out, may have you know, was probably a mistake," said Snyder. "They may have interpreted it, as you know him pulling a weapon and trying to do something. The family just wants no one else to ever suffer the way that they're suffering from the death of their father, husband and son."
Snyder said the first goal of the lawsuit is for a tragedy like this to never happen again.
"So they are asking for the mayor, and for the state's attorney and for the police department to to set an example and to enforce the laws that are on the books in Maryland," said Snyder. "That law being panhandling directed at persons in motor vehicles which the law states is prohibited, and aggressive panhandling which is also considered unlawful."
Just three hours before Reynolds was killed, police had apparently been called to the same intersection for another squeegee complaint.
In that case, a 41-year-old man said they damaged his car.
When he attempted to confront the group, he was met with a gun being pointed at him.
Police said they identified and arrested an 18-year-old armed with a BB gun, in connection with the allegation.
“Unfortunately, these issues in Baltimore City are out of control,” Snyder added. “City officials can’t stand by and allow this illegal activity to continue anymore. Choosing not to enforce laws, make arrests and prosecute offenders, who knowingly put the public at risk, is beyond negligence, it’s gross negligence.”
Reynolds' death sparked outrage and has brought the long lasting issue of squeegeeing in the City, back into the forefront of debate.
Mayor Scott has since continued to reject the idea of clearing squeegee people from corners, saying it would unfairly target young black men.
The letter sent by Snyder includes past statements made by Scott and others, which they say shows their disregard for the safety of Baltimore residents.
“The defendants swore to protect and uphold the laws of Maryland and this great country,” said Scott A. Snyder, counsel for the Reynolds family. “They failed to provide Mr. Reynolds with the protections and basic human rights that he was entitled to through the Constitution of the United States. Their failure and reckless disregard for safety cost him his life.”
For his part, Ivan Bates, who recently defeated Mosby in the Primary and is expected to take over as Baltimore City State's Attorney in January, has said he would handle the issue and believes squeegee groups should not be on busy city streets because of the safety risks it presents.
