Fresno County has agreed to pay $3.125 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of 32-year-old Kenny Mullins, an unarmed homeless man shot and killed by sheriff’s deputies in 2020.
The decision, approved by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, follows years of legal proceedings and renewed attention on law enforcement accountability.
According to the family’s attorney, Nicholas “Butch” Wagner, the case was a major factor in pushing the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to finally equip deputies with body cameras.
“I think it’s safe to say that this case had the biggest influence on why Fresno sheriff’s deputies now have body cams,” Wagner said.
Case Overview
Mullins’ mother and his 11-year-old daughter will receive the settlement, which still requires federal court approval. The agreement comes after U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff ruled that two reserve deputies — Chris Curtice and Alex Riordan — would face trial on civil rights charges related to the shooting.
The lawsuit stems from an incident on March 6, 2020, when deputies were called to a southwest Fresno auto dismantling yard where Mullins had been sleeping. The property owner reported that Mullins might have a shotgun nearby.
Deputies used a robot to inspect the area, then issued commands over a loudspeaker. After about 30–60 minutes, Mullins exited the building. What happened next remains disputed.
Conflicting Accounts
Curtice and Riordan, the deputies who opened fire, said Mullins refused to follow orders to get on the ground and appeared to assume a “shooting stance,” prompting them to fire.
But another deputy, Zachary Westbrook, gave a conflicting statement to internal affairs just hours later, saying Mullins had his hands up and was complying when he was shot.
Attorney Wagner said Westbrook’s early statement was critical to uncovering inconsistencies in the deputies’ reports.
“That testimony went a long way because it was given before the other deputies could align their stories,” Wagner said.
Broader Impact on Law Enforcement
The case, Wagner argued, directly influenced the Sheriff’s Office’s decision to implement body cameras across the department after the court granted injunctive relief.
He emphasized that bodycams protect both citizens and officers, reducing disputes and unnecessary litigation.
“They’re for everyone’s safety,” he said. “Cameras make interactions more accountable — for the public and for law enforcement alike.”
County officials have not commented publicly on the settlement.
Remembering Kenny Mullins
Mullins was born in Selma and attended Kingsburg High School. He had worked in restaurants and agriculture as a forklift operator and mechanic.
Court records show he had previous convictions for DUI, vandalism, and other minor offenses, but his family and attorney said he was struggling with mental health challenges at the time of his death.
