Former Nevada prisoner files lawsuit over shooting that blinded him

A former inmate who was blinded by birdshot from a correctional officer’s gun in April 2015 has filed a federal lawsuit against the former director of the Nevada Department of Corrections and multiple prison employees.

In a complaint filed Thursday, 25-year-old Stacey Richards, who changed his name from Rashaad Williams after getting out on parole, accuses several members of the Ely State Prison staff of battery and negligence. He also accuses them of violating his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by “maliciously and sadistically” shooting birdshot onto the floor of the prison, blinding him.

The lawsuit lists the Corrections Department’s former director, Greg Cox; Ely State Prison Warden Renee Baker; associate wardens Mike Byrne, Michael Fletcher and William Gittere; and corrections officer Eric Boardman as defendants.

According to the lawsuit, the last day Richards was able to see was April 21, 2015. Just after 7 p.m. that day, about 40 inmates congregated in an open area in one of the units at the prison.

The prisoners broke into clusters by race, “as is the case in many correctional institutions,” according to the lawsuit.

“Mr. Richards was with other African American inmates when, suddenly, about four Hispanic inmates began beating a fifth Hispanic inmate. Mr. Richards and his companions moved away from the altercation and fell to the floor as COs yelled commands” and one officer fired a warning shot, according to the complaint.

Corrections Department reports indicate Boardman then “skip shot” one round of birdshot at two men who remained standing. According to the lawsuit, Richards remembers two rounds being fired — one that hit him in the shoulder and another that “hit him square in the face, blinding him.”

Richards, who lives in Los Angeles County, believes the guard “did not fire birdshot in a good faith attempt to restore order, but rather sadistically, and for the purpose of harming inmates, and particularly black inmates,” according to the complaint.

The current director of the Corrections Department, James Dzurenda, announced in May that birdshot was to be removed from all prison facilities in Nevada.

Spokeswomen for the Nevada Department of Corrections and the state attorney general’s office said they could not comment on pending litigation.

A corrections officer charged with involuntary manslaughter and performing an act with reckless disregard of a person resulting in death in a separate inmate shooting in November 2014 is seeking a plea deal with the Nevada attorney general’s office.

Raynaldo John Ruiz “R.J.” Ramos, 37, was a probationary employee at High Desert State Prison when a 28-year-old inmate, Carlos Perez, was shot and killed with his hands cuffed behind his back. Another inmate, Andrew Arevalo, was shot in the face but survived. Ramos’ next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Perez’s family filed a civil rights lawsuit in April 2015, accusing High Desert guards of creating a “gladiator-like scenario” in the shooting that led to his death. An attorney for Arevalo filed a second civil rights lawsuit in June 2015, alleging the inmate suffered several gunshot wounds to his head, face, neck, arm, back and leg.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find @lauxkimber on Twitter.