BART to Pay $6.75M to Woman Shot by Officer

BART to Pay $6.75M to Woman Shot by Officer

Introduction

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) agency has agreed to pay $6.75 million to a woman who was shot by a BART police officer in 2024 at the Union City station, settling her claims of excessive force and false reporting.

The mediated pre-litigation settlement, finalized on June 19, 2025, also includes a joint statement acknowledging inaccuracies in the original police account of the incident.

The Shooting Incident at Union City Station

The shooting occurred on November 18, 2024, around 9:30 p.m. in the Union City BART station parking lot. Two BART police officers were responding to reports of a vehicle performing “donuts” in the area and approached a 33-year-old woman sitting in her car.

After a brief investigation, the officers determined the woman was not driving recklessly, noting that her tires were cold. However, body camera footage later showed that officers continued questioning her when they discovered that her vehicle registration appeared expired. As the exchange became tense, the woman appeared increasingly agitated and fearful.

Escalation and Gunfire

Video evidence revealed that at one point, the woman snatched her driver’s license from an officer’s hand. The officers then tried to forcibly remove her from the vehicle, as she repeatedly yelled, “Stop! You’re scaring me!” Moments later, she drove away from the officers.

One of the officers opened fire at the moving vehicle, striking the woman in the back. Her attorney said the bullet barely missed her heart, leaving her with severe physical and emotional trauma. She was hospitalized and later revealed to have lost full mobility in her left arm.

Initial Police Report Found to Be False

In the hours following the shooting, the BART Police Department released a report claiming the woman had assaulted officers with her vehicle, prompting the use of deadly force. BART’s Police Chief also announced that she would face multiple charges, including assault, evading arrest, and resisting officers, and cited two outstanding warrants.

However, once the body-worn camera footage was made public, it became clear that the official police report was not accurate. The video showed that no officer was dragged or trapped when the woman drove away and that no one was in immediate danger. As a result, no criminal charges were ever filed against the woman.

BART’s Admission and Disciplinary Action

As part of the settlement, BART issued a joint statement with the woman’s legal team acknowledging the false narrative. “When the woman drove away, no officer was being dragged or endangered,” the statement read. BART further confirmed that after an internal review, the agency issued a notice of intent to terminate the officer who fired the shot.

Family’s Statement and Emotional Toll

In a written statement, the woman’s family said the shooting “nearly killed” their daughter and left her with permanent, life-changing injuries. They also condemned the damage caused by the false police narrative, which had circulated widely in the media. “It continues to live online, hurting her reputation and our family deeply,” they said.

The woman’s attorney emphasized that she came “within inches of death” and continues to face long-term health challenges. He added that the family valued the agency’s acceptance of accountability and preferred to resolve the matter without filing a lawsuit, prioritizing closure over prolonged litigation.

BART’s Response and Commitment to Public Trust

In a prepared statement, a BART spokesperson said the agency’s top priority remains maintaining public trust. The officer involved was immediately placed on leave pending an independent investigation. “We engaged with the woman’s attorneys early to seek a resolution that avoided years of litigation,” the spokesperson said.
“Reaching this settlement swiftly serves the best interests of the woman, her family, our riders, and the wider community,” the statement concluded.