San Jose is giving football player K’aun Green a life-altering $8 million settlement after he was shot while attempting to act heroically

K’aun Green is poised to receive one of the largest settlements in city history following a “Good Samaritan” act that transformed into a nightmare.

K’aun Green is finally receiving the justice and the rewards he rightfully deserves. A 24-year-old former college football standout is poised to receive a substantial $8 million settlement from the city of San Jose following a police shooting in 2022 that nearly claimed his life.

KTVU reports that the payout, marking one of the largest in the city’s history, follows an incident in which K’aun was shot multiple times by a police officer while attempting to act as a hero in a chaotic situation.

On January 13, 2026, the San Jose City Council is anticipated to formally approve the agreement to resolve a federal excessive-force lawsuit that has been ongoing for years. The ordeal began in March 2022 at La Victoria Taqueria, a well-known late-night destination close to the San Jose State University campus. A brawl erupted within the restaurant, prompting K’aun, then a defensive lineman for City College of San Francisco, to intervene and protect those in danger.

He successfully wrested a gun from another individual engaged in the brawl and was retreating from the restaurant with the weapon held away from him when San Jose Police Officer Mark McNamara arrived.

Almost immediately upon arriving, McNamara began shooting at K’aun, striking him in the stomach, arm, and knee. Although the city initially attempted to label K’aun as a suspect in a nearby homicide, video footage swiftly refuted that claim, demonstrating that he was merely a bystander acting appropriately.

As if being shot wasn’t enough, the case took a troubling turn in 2023 when internal investigators discovered racist text messages on McNamara’s phone.

The ex-officer, who stepped down when the pressure became overwhelming, allegedly sent messages expressing disdain for Black individuals and employed racial slurs to refer to K’aun and his legal representatives. McNamara even made a lighthearted comment about the shooting, texting a friend that K’aun “should be bowing down to me” since the lawsuit would lead to his wealth.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office decided to dismiss several other criminal cases linked to McNamara, as his overt bias compromised his entire history as a police officer.

Adante Pointer, K’aun’s attorney, emphasized that although $8 million is a substantial amount, it represents the significant trauma K’aun experienced.

“The figure illustrates the extent of the harm K’aun endured, as well as the severity of the actions taken by this specific police officer,” Pointer stated. “At times, individuals inquire, ‘What actions led to someone being shot by the police?’” Sometimes, the reality is that you’re simply being a decent person.

Despite the city disbursing millions to prevent a trial, they have yet to extend a formal apology to K’aun for the life-altering incident. Despite the physical and mental toll, K’aun has not allowed this tragedy to hinder his determination. He maintained his determination and secured a full scholarship to play football at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a distinguished HBCU.

Should the city council grant approval for the $8 million as planned, it will mark the second-largest police settlement in San Jose’s history, surpassed only by a $11.3 million award from 2014.