Pedro Meza’s family marched from San Gabriel City Hall to the steps of the police department Tuesday, calling for the release of police body camera video capturing Meza’s final moments prior to being shot by police.

On Friday,, the Carrillo Law Firm filed a lawsuit against the city of San Gabriel on behalf of Meza’s family.

“I want justice for my husband,” Dora Hernandez, Meza’s wife, said. “He didn’t deserve this. My family didn’t deserve this.”

On July 31, San Gabriel police officers fatally shot Meza, a Rosemead resident, after a vehicle pursuit which ended in the 2600 block of Charlotte Avenue, a cul-de-sac near Garvey Avenue, in Rosemead.

Police said the pursuit started around 8:55 p.m. when a 2015 Jeep did not stop after an attempted traffic stop.

“The holidays are approaching us and my husband will not be around,” Meza said through tears. “They had no right to take him away from us.”

Hernandez and a group of about 40 people held large photos of Meza’s face and several signs as they chanted in English and Spanish for almost an hour in front of city hall. Drivers in passing cars looked over at the group and a handful honked in support.

Messages on the signs included, “A badge is not a license to kill,” and “SGPD protects killer cops.”

The group then walked a half mile down Mission Road past the San Gabriel Mission holding signs aloft and continuing to chant. When they arrived at the entrance to the department their cries grew louder.

“Release the footage!” they chanted repeatedly as well as “Cowards!”

In August, the family held a press conference announcing their attorneys had filed a claim for money damages against the city of San Gabriel.

The claim was made as a prerequisite before filing a lawsuit against a public entity.

During the press conference, attorneys played doorbell camera video from a nearby home which captured police firing at Meza’s vehicle. In the video, a volley of gunfire could be heard. Meza’s attorneys said after the volley were two pauses each followed by two shots. They referred to those two shots as kill shots.

The lawsuit alleges violations of federal civil rights and state law violations, including allegations of excessive force, denial of medical care, failure to train and wrongful death.

Michael Carrillo, an attorney with the firm filing the lawsuit, said attorneys and the family have not been told the names of the officers involved in the shooting, or if the officers are still working or have been placed on leave.

“These are cowards,” Carrillo said. “They are defending these officers without showing the public and the media what really happened that day.”

The city of San Gabriel said in a statement Tuesday that it cannot comment on pending litigation.

“The video footage that has been requested captures critical moments that are currently being carefully examined by investigators. Releasing this information could impact the integrity of the independent investigation,” the statement read. “We are committed to providing the information as soon the law allows, without compromising the outside investigation.”

Meza, who was survived by four children and eight grandchildren, had his own landscaping business, according to this family.

He enjoyed taking his grandchildren to Disneyland, Raging Waters, and to get ice cream, his family shared in August.

A day after the shooting, the California Department of Justice said it would be investigating Meza’s death under Assembly Bill 1506, which requires the DOJ investigates all police shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian.

The case remains under investigation, according to the California Attorney General’s office.

“We can’t count on the city to honor its word that they will eventually release the videos so that’s why we filed the lawsuit,” Carrillo said.

The San Gabriel Police Department could not be reached for comment.