The family of a Black man who was shot and killed by an off-duty Philadelphia homicide detective last fall is suing the city and several police officers, claiming the shooting was unjustified and that the detective and his police colleagues have conspired to cover it up.

The detective was cleared of wrongdoing in July by the district attorney’s office, which offered no public explanation for its decision.

At 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, Robert Jones, 54, pulled up behind Philadelphia Police Det. Christopher Sweeney, who stopped his car in the turn lane in a residential area of north Philadelphia, according to the lawsuit filed on Aug. 27 in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and obtained by Atlanta Black Star.

Sweeney, a 14-year veteran of the police department, who is white, was of

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