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Teen wins $60,000 settlement after video shows officers body-slam him

"The actions of these officers were outrageous."

A federal judge approved a $60,000 gross settlement Monday in a police brutality lawsuit against two Killeen Police Officers and the City of Killeen.

Austin-area attorney Robert Ranco filed the lawsuit in November after an April 2016 video showed officers body-slam a 15-year-old boy. Ranco said it happened after the bus driver called police to remove another child who was bullying the boy for being gay. But, after officers arrived, the bully allegedly yelled "that f----t started it," causing the boy to yell back and leading officers to drag him off the bus. Once outside, the video clearly shows him being forcefully slammed to the ground. Ranco said the boy suffered a mild concussion and claimed unreleased audio from a dash cam proved the officers did not give the boy instructions before he was slammed to the ground.

"We're so thankful he wasn't hurt worse," Ranco said. "...The actions of these officers were outrageous."

Officers Travis Lundt and Stephen Frucella were named as defendants in the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Waco.

Ranco said the City and KPD flatly refused to apologize. A Killeen Police Spokesperson declined to comment and deferred any questions to the a city spokesperson, who did not immediately return a call.

"Without an apology or any acknowledgement of wrongdoing, it's hard to imagine we're moving in the right direction," Ranco said.

The city reportedly asked for mediation within a week of the lawsuit being filed. And Ranco said the offer demonstrated the city knew the officers had acted inappropriately, even if no formal apology was given. The agreement was actually reached a few months ago. However, it had to be approved by a judge because the boy was a minor.

The teen, who was a high school freshman at the time, will receive a net amount of $38,525 when he turns 18, according to court documents obtained by Channel 6. The money will be held by the court until then.

"On behalf of the family, I'm thankful it was done as quickly as it was," Ranco said.

The boy wanted to pursue the lawsuit in order to prevent something similar from happening to anyone else, according to Ranco.

Watch the video below.

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