County to Pay $4.4 Million to Family of Unarmed Marine Killed by Deputy

Orange County agreed to pay $4.4 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by the family of an unarmed Marine who was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy at San Clemente High School, officials said Wednesday.

Orange County supervisors voted April 23 to authorize their attorneys to negotiate a settlement. Officials did not release any details about the settlement beyond the cost, said Howard Sutter, a spokesman for the county chief executive's office.

Marine Sgt. Manuel Levi Loggins Jr., 31, was shot on Feb. 7, 2012, while his daughters, 9 and 14, sat behind him in the family's SUV.

When supervisors voted to pursue the settlement, Orange County Board Chairman Shawn Nelson said, "Obviously it's a terrible tragedy every way around... It's just a tragedy and there isn't anyone involved who wouldn't agree."

Nelson said the supervisors had a "duty on behalf of the taxpayers" and "to do right by the people who put in a claim."

The Loggins family's attorney, Brian Dunn, was not immediately available for comment.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas announced Sept. 28 that his office concluded Deputy Darren Sandberg was justified to open fire on Loggins.

According to the D.A.'s office, the Camp Pendleton-based Marine appeared angry and was speeding before he drove his GMC Yukon through the high school's gate about 4:45 a.m.

Sandberg, who was parked nearby, filling out paperwork near the end of his shift, saw what happened and went to investigate. He pulled up behind the SUV and ordered Loggins out.

Loggins got out of the SUV, but he started walking toward the school's athletic field, ignoring orders to stop, according to the Sheriff's Department. When he later returned, climbed into the vehicle and turned the ignition, again ignoring the deputy's warnings, Sandberg opened fire.

Loggins was unarmed.

Loggins, a native of Joliet, Ill., liked to take his family to the athletic field for early morning workouts and Bible study, Dunn has said. 

- City News Service