Louisiana officials have reached a tentative settlement of $4.8 million with the family of Ronald Greene, an unarmed Black motorist who died following a confrontation with police in May 2019, state police and media reports said.
Authorities had initially reported that Greene died while driving his vehicle. However, body-camera footage publicly released in 2021 showed white officers repeatedly striking Greene while he was handcuffed after his car crashed following a high-speed chase. Video clips also show Greene being dragged along the ground by shackled feet and being subjected to taser shocks as he pleaded, "I'm scared."
The video of Greene's death became a focal point in a national conversation about police brutality, particularly toward Black men, and contributed to the wave of Black Lives Matter protests across the United States and worldwide in 2020.
The settlement amount was reported on Tuesday evening, citing two people with knowledge of the agreement. The Louisiana State Police said they were not in a position to discuss the settlement's terms because the process has not been finalized. "We are unable to discuss the terms of the settlement at this time, as the process has not yet been finalized," spokesperson Lieutenant Kate Stegall wrote in an email on Wednesday.
An attorney representing Greene's family did not respond to a call or an emailed request for comment.
Legal proceedings related to Greene's death have been complex. In 2022, a grand jury returned indictments against five Louisiana law enforcement officers on charges ranging from negligent homicide to malfeasance for their roles in the incident. Those charges were later reduced or dropped. In January 2025, days before the end of President Joe Biden's administration, the Justice Department informed Greene's family that it would not pursue federal charges in the matter.
In the same week that it declined to bring federal charges, the Justice Department published a report that examined the case and its aftermath. The report concluded that "Greene's death and its aftermath demonstrated serious failures at LSP - excessive force, improper supervision, ineffective training, and breakdowns in accountability." While the review noted that some positive changes had been implemented by the Louisiana State Police since Greene's death, it urged additional reforms, including enhanced training to prioritize less intrusive alternatives before resorting to force.
Context and next steps
The settlement remains tentative until all formalities are completed and public discussion or legal filings clarify the parties' final agreement. Officials from the state police declined to provide further comment while the process is underway. The family's legal representative has not issued a public response at this time.
This case continues to reflect contested accounts, evolving legal actions, and federal scrutiny of law enforcement practices in Louisiana.