Atty: Trooper Wrongly 'Demonized' In South Side Shooting Suit

The attorney for a state trooper who fatally shot a South Side motorist in March said his client was wrongly "demonized" in a lawsuit filed by the man's family.

The attorney for Trooper Samuel Nassan III said the officer was justified in shooting Nicholas Haniotakis, 33, on March 15 because he tried to hit officers with his vehicle and later was found to be driving drunk and with several drugs in his system.

Nassan's attorney said the lawsuit also falsely claims Nassan wasn't honorably discharged from the Marines.

Nassan was involved in the high-profile shooting death of Michael Ellerbe, 12, in Uniontown in December 2002.

Ellerbe was shot in the back as he was running away from a stolen car police were chasing. Nassan claimed he shot Ellerbe because he believed Ellerbe had shot his partner, Trooper Juan Curry.

Nassan was cleared of criminal wrongdoing, but a civil court jury ruled in favor of the boy's family and the state was ordered to pay $12.5 million.

Previous Stories: June 12, 2009: Police Officer Cleared In Off-Duty South Side Shooting May 14, 2009: Pittsburgh Officer: Force Necessary In South Side Shooting April 2, 2009: Family Of Man Shot Dead By Trooper Files Lawsuit March 25, 2009: Investigators Recreate Scene Of Fatal South Side Shooting March 18, 2009: State Trooper Fired Shot That Killed South Side Man March 16, 2009: New Details Emerging After Man Shot, Killed On South Side