Police say a Denver 911 operator received a call in April from passengers in a vehicle reporting that people in another vehicle threw bottles at their car, breaking a window.
The passengers had left the spot in Denver where it happened to call 911 from a suburb.
The dispatcher told them to go back to the scene, where the suspect vehicle returned and fired a gun, killing Jimma Reat.
The Denver Post reports the lawsuit was filed against the city of Denver and the dispatcher, who was fired over the incident.
The dispatcher could not be reached for reaction and the city refused comment.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)