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Three factors played out in his mind that could’ve changed the entire night, Picerno said. Picerno said he doesn’t believe that Newton was ever in danger or that Nelson even knew he was there. The second factor Picerno mentioned was that Nelson was acting in self-defense and the third being Newton never activated his lights or sirens

John Picerno, an attorney who represented the victims, said he and his clients met with prosecutors Wednesday afternoon and was told about their decision not to file criminal charges. “My clients are obviously very disappointed that he’s not going to be charged,” Picerno said. “They simply cannot believe that he’s still employed by KCPD based upon the amounts of incidents that he’s been involved in.” In September, the Police Department agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit in the shooting deaths before the case went to trial.

Many of those shooters were repeat offenders such as Blayne Newton, a notorious bad actor who has at least three on-duty deaths on his resume. In addition, he has faced credible accusations of using excessive force on women. Newton’s untoward acts have cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements.

Picerno argued Good's actions in the video appeared evasive rather than threatening."When the car starts to back up, that should be the first indication to law enforcement that, A, she's not intent on harming us and, B, she's about getting ready to flee,"

Picerno pointed to a specific detail in the video he wants people to notice.“I don’t think the officer was justified in using lethal force,” Picerno said. “It backs up, first of all. Typically, you wouldn’t associate backing up with an aggressive maneuver to run into some officers who were in front of her.”

Picerno said such cases are evaluated under long-established legal standards governing when officers may use deadly force. “The law on this is very clear,” Picerno said. “The Supreme Court has carved out specific incidences when officers are allowed to shoot into automobiles and fleeing felons or to stop a perceived threat of danger of imminent violence or to protect themselves, and I don’t see any of those factors present in the video that I watched.”

John Picerno, the families’ attorney, told The Star that the plaintiffs in the case were deeply disturbed to learn that Newton had previously taken another life. “They all believe he should no longer serve in law enforcement,” Picerno told Star reporter Caroline Zimmerman. “I am in agreement with my clients.”

The group’s attorney, John Picerno, told The Star in a text Monday that while they acknowledge the settlement “with appreciation,” it doesn’t compensate for the loss of Nelson and Fairchild at the hands of Newton, an officer previously involved in a fatal incident. "The plaintiffs were deeply disturbed to learn that the officer responsible had previously taken another life, and they all believe he should no longer serve in law enforcement. I am in agreement with my clients,” Picerno said.

Tampering with evidence is a serious accusation under Missouri law. It’s a charge that can apply to more situations than many people realize. Whether it's a criminal investigation, a civil lawsuit, or even an administrative matter, attempting to influence or alter physical or digital proof can lead to prosecution.

Federal sentencing decisions depend on many factors that can affect the outcome. The nature of the crime, the defendant’s history, and other case details all play important roles. Because these decisions have serious consequences, it’s important to know what influences them.