On Dec. 2, 2015, plaintiff’s decedent Mario Woods, 26, stabbed an unarmed man. The victim of the stabbing was taken to an emergency room, where he reported the stabbing to sheriff’s deputies. The deputies then broadcast the crime and suspect description to San Francisco police, who further investigated the incident and received a detailed physical and clothing description of the suspect, Woods. The police eventually located Woods at a crowded bus stop. Woods still had a large knife, and a confrontation ensued. Ultimately, five of the officers fired a total of 21 shots at Woods. Woods died at the scene. A toxicology report performed by the medical examiner revealed that Woods had a toxic combination of drugs, including methamphetamine, in his system at the time of the incident. The decedent’s mother, Gwendolyn Woods, acting individually and as her son’s successor in interest, sued the five police officers, Charles August, Nicholas Cuevas, Winston Seto, Antonio Santos and Scott Phillips, and the officers’ employer, the city and county of San Francisco. Ms. Woods alleged that the officers’ actions constituted excessive force in violation of Mr. Woods’ civil rights, causing Mr. Woods’ wrongful death. She also alleged that the city and county were liable for the officers’ actions. Plaintiff’s counsel noted that cellphone video from the events showed Woods holding the knife at his side, and contended that Woods did not raise or swing the knife at the officers at any time. Counsel also contended that while Woods took four steps toward the officers, Woods was not charging them. As a result, counsel asserted that lethal force was unnecessary. Defense counsel contended that, when confronted, Woods announced that the police would have to shoot him before he would surrender. Counsel maintained that the police officers attempted to surround Woods and tried to persuade Woods to surrender the knife and submit to an arrest, but that Woods refused. Counsel contended that the officers then tried to get Woods to surrender by using pepper spray, shooting him with a high velocity bean bag, and shooting him with rubber bullets, but that Woods still refused to comply. Defense counsel asserted that after the unsuccessful attempts to get Woods to surrender, Woods, who was still armed with the knife, which was still at his side, but pointed forward, began to walk toward the closest officer, August, who was the only officer between Woods and approximately 12 citizen bystanders. Counsel contended that Woods continued to walk within eight feet of the officer, posing an imminent threat of danger or death by stabbing, when the five officers shot him. Defense counsel asserted that the shooting was justified because Woods posed an imminent threat of violence by moving toward an officer with a knife after refusing to surrender and after numerous attempts to subdue him were unsuccessful., Mario Woods sustained at least 20 gunshot wounds and died at the scene on Dec. 2, 2015. He was 26 years old. Mr. Woods’ mother sought recovery of wrongful death damages for the loss of her son.