Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Over 2024 Police Shooting
A family has sued the city following the 2024 shooting death of 28-year-old Nicholas Thorn at the Pacific Crest Apartments.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement
The family of 28-year-old Nicholas Thorn has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Portland and former officer Andrew Young. The legal action follows an October 2024 incident where Thorn was shot by police after a 35-minute standoff.
Why it matters
The lawsuit challenges police handling of the 2024 encounter, alleging that officers failed to de-escalate the situation or wait for specialized crisis response teams. This filing marks a new stage in the fallout from the shooting, which previously saw a grand jury clear the officer of criminal wrongdoing.
Following the 35-minute standoff at the Pacific Crest Apartments, the lawsuit questions police conduct during the incident. The total outcome of the litigation remains unknown.
The players
Nicholas Thorn
The 28-year-old man who died in an October 2024 police shooting.
Andrew Young
A former officer with the Portland Police Bureau who resigned in 2025.
Phillip Thorn
The individual who filed the wrongful death lawsuit against the city.
Portland Police Bureau
The city agency that responded to the apartment standoff.
The details
Phillip Thorn filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for Oregon, naming both the city and Andrew Young as defendants. The complaint alleges that police did not adequately address the situation before the fatal 1:22 a.m. encounter involving a pellet gun. Andrew Young, who had served seven years with the bureau, resigned in 2025 following the incident and a subsequent grand jury clearance.
Timeline
Oct. 4, 2024: Nicholas Thorn died in a police shooting at the Pacific Crest Apartments.
2025: Officer Andrew Young resigned from the Portland Police Bureau.
Oct. 2, 2026: The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in federal court.
Beyond the Bridges
This lawsuit follows a previous grand jury decision that cleared the officer of criminal charges in 2024. The civil filing represents a new, separate legal avenue for challenging the city's response to the incident.
Residents may see further public discussion regarding the deployment of specialized crisis response teams by the city. This legal action will move through the U.S. District Court for Oregon in the coming months.
The takeaway
The wrongful death suit shifts focus from criminal findings to civil liability regarding city de-escalation tactics. Residents should watch for upcoming court filings in the U.S. District Court for Oregon as the case moves forward.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by Oregon Live.
