Executive Summary
- Kim Previte has filed a federal lawsuit against seven New Hampshire towns and 15 officers regarding the death of her son.
- The suit alleges “military-style tactics” and “gross escalation” during a July 2024 standoff.
- Court filings state officers fired 15-20 rounds, striking Anthony Previte seven times.
The mother of Anthony Previte, a man fatally shot by police during a standoff in 2024, has filed a federal lawsuit against seven local municipalities and 15 officers, alleging that “military-style tactics” resulted in his wrongful death.
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for New Hampshire, Kim Previte contends that a “pattern of gross escalation and overreaction” by law enforcement on July 22, 2024, precipitated the fatal outcome. The filing states that officers discharged “15-20” lethal rounds at Anthony Previte, concluding an hours-long standoff at the family’s Kensington residence.
The lawsuit details that Previte sustained seven gunshot wounds, with injuries reported to his head, chest, abdomen, hip, shoulder, and knee. The plaintiff argues these actions constituted an unjustified use of lethal force given the circumstances.
Legal and Procedural Implications
This lawsuit brings under scrutiny the protocols governing multi-agency tactical responses in New Hampshire. Federal civil rights litigation regarding police use of force typically focuses on whether the officers’ conduct was “objectively reasonable” under the Fourth Amendment, a standard established by the Supreme Court. As the case proceeds through discovery, the focus will likely turn to body camera footage and tactical logs to determine if the deployment of lethal force met constitutional standards. It is important to note that the filing of a lawsuit represents allegations by the plaintiff, and all defendants are presumed not liable for civil damages until proven otherwise in a court of law.
