CLEVELAND, Ohio — An 18-year-old man was unarmed when he was shot to death by Cleveland Heights police officers outside his home, according to a lawsuit.

Attorneys said Christian Thomas , 18, never pointed a gun at officers or his family and had dropped the weapon before officers fired 25 shots, hitting him nine times.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in Cleveland on behalf of Christian Thomas’ father, Ferrel Thomas. It accuses officers of using excessive force.

Officers “shot and killed Christian Thomas while he was unarmed and running and posed no imminent or significant threat of death or serious injury to [officers] or any others,” attorney Stanley Jackson wrote.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Cleveland Heights officials for comment

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