Family sues Amtrak and Mount Shasta police over fatal Christmas shooting on train

On Christmas morning 2023, Nicholas Detweiler boarded an Amtrak train in Klamath Falls, Oregon, heading to Sonoma County to spend the holiday with his mother, according to The Press Democrat. Less than 80 miles into the journey, as the train stopped in Mount Shasta, a police officer boarded to investigate a disturbance and shot Detweiler within 90 seconds of waking him.

Detweiler, 32, collapsed on the train floor bleeding, and an Amtrak conductor was also struck or grazed by bullets during the incident in the narrow train aisle, The Press Democrat reported. Authorities said Detweiler ignored commands and attacked the conductor, prompting the officer to fire in self-defense. The officer was later cleared of wrongdoing by police and Amtrak attorneys, who said Detweiler was aggressive and armed with brass knuckles.

More than a year later, Detweiler’s mother, Julia Detweiler of Rio Nido, filed a federal lawsuit in Sacramento on November 7 against Amtrak and Mount Shasta officials. The suit alleges wrongful death, excessive force, negligence, denial of medical care, and violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, noting her son lived with an unspecified mental illness.

The Amtrak conductor also filed a separate lawsuit claiming the officer used excessive force and failed to control the situation. The legal actions are ongoing in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, according to The Press Democrat.