Gastonia Judge Dismisses Family's Lawsuit Over Fatal Police Shooting

Federal judge rules officers' use of force was justified in 2022 incident that killed Jason Lipscomb.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A federal judge has thrown out a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Jason Lipscomb over his fatal shooting by Gastonia police officers in 2022, ruling that the officers' use of force was justified under the law. The judge granted the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings after reviewing body-worn camera footage, finding that the videos 'blatantly contradict' several of the family's allegations. The court's decision effectively shuts down the family's 2025 civil rights case unless they decide to appeal.

Why it matters

The dismissal of the Lipscomb family's lawsuit highlights the challenges that grieving families often face in seeking accountability for officer-involved shootings, with legal doctrines like qualified immunity often proving a significant obstacle. The case has also sparked protests in the Gastonia community over the officers' use of force in a residential neighborhood.

The details

According to the court's summary, officers responded to a home on July 20, 2022, after a daycare staff member reported that two children had been taken without authorization. Witness accounts and camera footage showed Lipscomb running to a silver car, reversing and knocking an officer to the ground, then moving the vehicle forward toward another officer. Officers then opened fire, and the vehicle later crashed, killing Lipscomb.

  • On July 20, 2022, officers responded to a report of unauthorized child removal.
  • On February 2, 2026, a federal judge granted the defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings and dismissed the family's 2025 civil lawsuit.

The players

Jason Lipscomb

The individual who was fatally shot by Gastonia police officers in 2022.

Robert Hamlett

Lipscomb's family member who criticized the shooting and the dismissal of the family's lawsuit.

Judge Kenneth D. Bell

The federal judge who ruled that the officers' use of force was justified and dismissed the family's civil lawsuit.

City of Gastonia

The municipality that was named as a defendant in the family's civil lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“They shot my son.”

— Robert Hamlett (WSOC)

What’s next

The Lipscomb family has the option to appeal the federal judge's decision to dismiss their civil lawsuit.

The takeaway

This case highlights the significant legal hurdles that families often face in seeking accountability for officer-involved shootings, with doctrines like qualified immunity often proving a major obstacle. The dismissal of the Lipscomb family's lawsuit has sparked further criticism and calls for closer scrutiny of how smaller police departments handle high-pressure situations.