A federal wrongful-death lawsuit filed this week alleges that San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies fired approximately 20 rounds into an unarmed 23-year-old Black man during a January encounter in a parking lot, with many of the shots striking him while he lay face-down on the ground, according to legal representatives for the family.
Jaque "Queque" Rabon was pursued by plainclothes deputies attempting to execute a felony warrant on January 22 in Riverside County. Law enforcement officials claimed Rabon was a documented gang member wanted in connection with robbery, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and weapons possession by a convicted felon. The sheriff's office also reported receiving two calls that day alleging Rabon had threatened to shoot someone in the area.
Video footage released by the sheriff's department shows three plainclothes deputies in unmarked vehicles approaching Rabon at a shopping center and ordering him to raise his hands. According to accounts of the footage, Rabon initially complied by raising his hands before fleeing. Deputies pursued him on foot, with one officer repeatedly shouting "Get him! Get him! Get him!" while another yelled "Stop reaching!" during the chase.
The crux of the family's legal claim centers on deputies' assertion that Rabon was reaching toward a fanny pack or bag worn around his body, leading officers to fear he possessed a weapon. However, no weapon was recovered from Rabon's person. According to his sister, Makyla Brown, the bag contained only identification and cash. An autopsy conducted by the family indicated Rabon sustained 11 gunshot wounds to his back, a detail that raises questions about the circumstances under which the fatal shots were fired.
The lawsuit, filed by Rabon's parents Tyesha Moody and Robert Rabon, accuses the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the county of multiple violations. Beyond excessive force allegations, the complaint charges that deputies delayed summoning paramedics for several minutes after ceasing fire and further impeded emergency medical personnel's access to Rabon upon their arrival. The family's attorney, Dale Galipo, highlighted the severity of the shooting as a central point in establishing the deputies' alleged use of unreasonable force.
The legal filing invokes several state and federal statutes in its claims. The suit alleges denial of medical care, violation of the family's constitutionally protected relationship, municipal liability on multiple counts, battery and negligence. Notably, the complaint also cites California's Bane Act, formally known as the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, which enables individuals to seek damages when civil rights protections are violated through threats, intimidation, coercion or unconstitutional applications of excessive force by law enforcement.
The case represents another chapter in ongoing national scrutiny of police use-of-force protocols and the deaths of unarmed Black Americans during law enforcement interactions. The details surrounding Rabon's death have prompted questions about training, de-escalation practices and accountability standards within the sheriff's department.
Source: NewsOne | Published: Fri, 28 Aug 2026 19:15:57
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