A San Diego federal jury was unable to reach verdicts and a mistrial was declared Thursday in the case of a former San Diego County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an unarmed man.
Jurors deliberated for more than a week before announcing they were deadlocked in the trial of Aaron Russell, who has been prosecuted in both state and federal courts for the May 1, 2020, shooting death of Nicholas Bils.
Following Thursday’s mistrial announcement, a status hearing was set for next month, at which point prosecutors may address a potential retrial. Russell had faced federal charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, after he was indicted last year.
Bils, 36, had been arrested for allegedly brandishing a