It was later discovered that the gun McGill had was not loaded, although spent cartridges were found at the scene.

The family alleges that McGill was displaying his hands and made himself available before officers escalated the encounter by drawing their weapons.

His family had previously contacted CMPD for assistance, including a call on December 15, 2023, for involuntary committal paperwork.

The family of Sanrico Sanchez McGill is suing the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) for the negligent killing of McGill, who suffered from schizophrenia and psychosis.

Instead of providing assistance, dozens of officers arrived and pointed firearms at the family, leading to a chaotic situation.

Despite officers allegedly being familiar with McGill from a prior involuntary commitment order, the lawsuit claims they escalated the situation rather than de-escalating it.

The Mecklenburg County District Attorney decided not to press charges against the CMPD officers following an investigation into the shooting.

Sanrico was described as being in an extremely agitated state during the incident, with his family asserting that he was experiencing a manic episode and in need of help.

The incident occurred on December 16, 2023, when McGill's mother called 911 for assistance during his mental health crisis, expecting police to help.

According to a District Attorney's report, McGill pointed a gun at his brother and did not comply with police commands to drop the weapon.

Within two minutes of arrival, CMPD officers shot McGill 25 times, with only two shots hitting him; one fatal shot struck his chest, according to an autopsy report.

The family's lawsuit claims that the officers acted with gross negligence and failed to de-escalate the situation before using lethal force, causing the family severe emotional distress.