A federal judge has dismissed three of five claims in a lawsuit over the Macomb police shooting death of 4-year-old Terrell Miller in 2024, citing a missed filing deadline and federal rules protecting cities from direct liability.
While federal civil rights claims against police officers carry a two-year deadline, Illinois law imposes a one-year statute of limitations on injury and wrongful death claims brought against local municipalities and public employees.
Because Miller’s family filed the federal suit nearly two years after the shooting, U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow ruled this week on a motion to dismiss, agreeing that the claims for wrongful death and emotional distress came too late.
Judge Darrow also threw out a third count seeking to hold the city of Macomb directly responsible under federal law, ruling that municipalities cannot be held automatically liable for an officer's actions.
However, two claims are still active — a federal civil rights claim alleging Lt. Nick Goc violated Terrell’s constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment, and a state claim requiring Macomb to cover any financial damages if Goc is found liable.
The lawsuit stems from a shooting on March 16, 2024. That night, police responded to an apartment in the 900 block of North Charles Street following reports of a woman screaming for help.
When Goc and Officer Korri Cameron arrived on scene, they heard screaming inside the apartment. They forced entry into the apartment and found Keianna Miller, Terrell’s mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
57-year-old Anthony George was at the end of the hallway in the apartment. George reached into a bedroom and pulled Terrell into the hallway, holding knives to the child’s throat and stomach.
Goc fired one shot that struck and killed George and the child.
Two internal review panels absolved Goc in the shooting, and the state appellate prosecutor’s office found no basis for criminal charges against him.
Keianna Miller and Travaughn Miller, administrator of Terrell's estate, filed the federal lawsuit on March 14, 2026.
Here’s where the five counts filed in the federal lawsuit stand:
Count I — Federal Civil Rights Violation (42 U.S.C. § 1983)
- Filed by: Travaughn Miller (Administrator of Terrell’s Estate)
- What it asked: Financial damages against Lt. Nick Goc for violating Terrell's Fourteenth Amendment constitutional rights.
- Status: ACTIVE
Count II — Illinois State Wrongful Death
- Filed by: Travaughn Miller (Administrator of Terrell’s Estate)
- What it asked: Financial compensation under state law for the wrongful death of the child.
- Status: DISMISSED — Filed past Illinois' one-year deadline for local government lawsuits.
Count III — Direct Municipal Liability (Respondeat Superior)
- Filed by: Travaughn Miller (Administrator of Terrell’s Estate)
- What it asked: Holding the city of Macomb directly responsible for Lt. Goc's actions.
- Status: DISMISSED — The judge ruled federal law does not allow automatic direct liability against cities.
Count IV — Statutory Indemnification
- Filed by: Travaughn Miller (Administrator of Terrell’s Estate)
- What it asked: Requiring the city of Macomb to cover any financial damages if Goc is found liable under Count I.
- Status: ACTIVE
Count V — Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
- Filed by: Keianna Miller (Terrell's mother, brought individually)
- What it asked: Individual damages for the severe emotional trauma caused by the shooting.
- Status: DISMISSED — Filed past the one-year Illinois deadline, which also officially removes Keianna Miller as a plaintiff in the case.
