A tragic incident involving the death of a young man has sparked legal action against law enforcement officers and agencies in Arizona. On February 24, 2026, Susan Y. Lindsey filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona against Sergeant Nikolaus Arney, Chief Kyran “Joe” Brennan, the Maricopa County Community College District Police Department, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
The lawsuit arises from an incident on March 7, 2024, when Andre Lamar Lindsey Jr., son of the plaintiff, was fatally shot by Sergeant Nikolaus Arney near Van Buren Street in Phoenix. The complaint alleges that Andre was not posing an immediate threat at the time of the shooting and that he was holding a non-lethal replica airsoft pistol. According to court documents, “the object recovered at the scene was later identified and documented as a non-lethal replica airsoft pistol with separated components.” The plaintiff argues that this use of deadly force violated Andre’s Fourth Amendment rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Furthermore, Susan Lindsey accuses both Sergeant Arney and Chief Brennan of failing to render necessary medical aid after her son sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds. The complaint states that no life-saving measures were taken before emergency personnel arrived, which allegedly demonstrates “deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.” This failure to provide aid is claimed to have deprived Andre of potentially life-saving intervention.
The lawsuit also includes claims under Arizona state law for wrongful death and negligence. Susan Lindsey asserts that the defendants’ actions directly caused her son’s death and seeks damages for emotional distress, loss of companionship, funeral expenses, and more. She emphasizes her role as a statutory beneficiary under Arizona law due to her relationship with Andre.
Susan Lindsey is seeking compensatory damages in an amount determined at trial along with punitive damages against individual defendants. Her claims extend beyond financial compensation; she seeks justice for what she perceives as gross negligence by those responsible for upholding public safety standards but failing tragically here.
Representing herself pro se (without legal counsel), Susan Y. Lindsey has filed this case identified as CV26-01282-PHX-JAT before Judge James A Teilborg (JAT). While there are no specific attorneys listed on either side within these documents yet—indicating possible forthcoming representation—the case highlights significant issues surrounding police conduct during critical incidents involving firearms or perceived threats thereof across communities nationwide today.
Source: 226cv01282_Lindsey_v_Arney_Complaint_District_Arizona.pdf
