BUFFALO, N.Y. — A family is suing the City of Buffalo and American Medical Response for the death of a beloved 18-year-old. The wrongful death lawsuit is the result of what the family says was a delay in care after a shooting last summer.
It's eight months later and sister Atenia Cyrus is still emotional. She still holds on the memories of her brother, Columbus Brooks, who died at Perkins Park. Brooks was playing basketball when a bullet hit him.
"I don't understand why their first goal wasn't to save his life," said his older sister, Athenia Cyrus. "They let him sit there and sit there, and sit there."
Cyrus and her attorney have filed a wrongful death suit against the City of Buffalo and AMR.
"People kept trying to convince me that my brother died instantly. There was nothing they could do to help," Athenia said. "Before you point fingers, you ask questions, so I asked questions."
The 10-page lawsuit claims "the defendants, for more than thirty minutes, kept Mr. Brooks on the hot concrete in the summer heat of July while he bled to death."
The AMR reports say emergency responders were performing CPR. It goes on to say that had Columbus "been transported to ECMC in a timely fashion. ... Mr. Brooks should have survived this incident, and he would have survived."
We reached out to AMR and the City of Buffalo for comment. Both say they do not comment on pending litigation. Despite that, the family is seeking $6 million in damages. They point out that no amount of money, not even six million, will be enough to bring the 18-year-old back into his family's arms.
"I've always had answers. I've always known it wasn't supposed to die here," Athena said.