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Family Sues Kern County After Former NFL Player Killed By Deputies

BAKERSFIELD (AP) — The family of a one-time NFL running back who was fatally shot by Kern County sheriff's deputies in a convenience store parking lot is suing the sheriff's department for alleged civil rights violations.

Lawyers for the family of David Lee Turner, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1978 to 1980, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday claiming that deputies improperly searched the 56-year-old Bakersfield resident and used unreasonable force on him.

Turner was outside the store last month when the deputies responded to a report that a group of minors was trying to get adults to buy liquor for them.

The department has said Turner initially was cooperative when the deputies stopped him for questioning, but hit one of the deputies in the back of the head with a bag of canned beer after the officer hit Tuner's leg with his baton.

The other deputy then shot Turner twice.

»RELATED: Security Tape Shows Store Incident, But Not Turner's Killing By Deputy

»RELATED: Report Finds Deputy Acted Within Policy In Fatal Shooting Of Former NFL Player

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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