Strickland family plans to sue

UNC Wilmington and its police department face a lawsuit filed by the family of Peyton Strickland.

In December of 2006, a New Hanover county sheriff’s deputy shot and killed 18-year-old Strickland while trying to serve a warrant for UNCW police.

The lawsuit blames UNCW and its police department for a “sloppy, hasty and overzealous” investigation.

Strickland of Durham was shot through the door of his Wilmington rental home. Deputy Chris Long said he mistook the sound of a battering ram for gunshots coming from inside the house.

Strickland and two friends were suspected of beating a UNCW student and robbing him of two Playstation 3’s.