In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court upheld the qualified immunity of Royal Oak, Michigan police officer Keith Bierenga in connection with the tragic 2018 shooting of Antonino Gordon during a traffic stop. This decision came despite an appeal from Nita Gordon, the widow of Antonino, who alleged that Officer Bierenga employed excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment rights. This ruling not only highlights the complex intersection of law enforcement practices and constitutional protections but also raises critical questions about the accountability of police officers in high-stakes situations, as reported by Andrew Chung for Reuters.

The Court’s refusal to hear Nita Gordon’s appeal follows a previous judgment by the Cincinnati-based Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021, which granted immunity to Officer Bierenga. The appellate court determined that no previous case sufficiently mirrored the circumstances of this incident. The situation unfolded when Officer Bierenga attempted to stop Gordon, who was suspected of multiple traffic violations that nearly led to accidents. As Gordon maneuvered his vehicle to avoid Bierenga, who had drawn his weapon, the officer discharged four shots into the driver’s side of the car. Tragically, Gordon, whose blood alcohol content was found to exceed three times the legal limit, succumbed to his injuries later in a hospital.