NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana officials have agreed to a tentative $4.8 million settlement with the family of Ronald Greene, a Black motorist who died during a violent 2019 roadside arrest carried out by five white officers, two people with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press.
The settlement would end a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Greene, whose death drew national attention after the AP in 2021 obtained footage showing Louisiana State Police officers punching, kicking and using stun guns outside the city of Monroe.
The settlement is subject to approval by the Louisiana Legislature, said two people with direct knowledge of the lawsuit who were not authorized to publicly discuss the agreement.
Louisiana State Police spokesperson Capt. Russell Graham said the agency could not comment on the terms of the settlement because the process “has not yet been finalized.”
Mona Hardin, Greene’s mother, did not immediately return messages seeking comment Tuesday.
Last year, federal prosecutors declined to bring charges against the troopers involved in Greene’s fatal arrest.
For two years after Greene's death, the circumstances of the traffic stop following a high-speed chase remained shrouded in secrecy. State police refused to release footage of the arrest, initially claiming Greene, 49, died after crashing into a tree during the pursuit.
Video later obtained by AP showed that troopers had used stun guns on the unarmed Greene as he apologized for leading them on the chase. Troopers wrestled Greene to the ground, placed him in a chokehold and punched him. They dragged him facedown on the ground while his hands were cuffed and his legs were shackled then left him lying on the ground without providing aid.
Troopers had initially sought to pull Greene over for an unspecified traffic violation.
In the final days of President Joe Biden's administration in January 2025, the Justice Department found that Louisiana State Police engaged in a statewide pattern of excessive force during arrests and vehicle pursuits. Several months later, the DOJ under President Donald Trump rescinded these findings.
The investigation was launched in 2022 after an investigation by the AP exposed a series of brutal beatings by troopers.
FILE — This image from video from Louisiana state trooper Lt. John Clary's body-worn camera shows trooper Kory York standing over Ronald Greene on his stomach on May 10, 2019, outside of Monroe, La. (Lt. John Clary/Louisiana State Police via AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — True to his baseball tools, speedy outfielder A.J. Ewing made a rapid rise through the minors.
He's certainly off to a fast start with the New York Mets, too.
Called up by the struggling Mets after just 12 games at Triple-A Syracuse, the 21-year-old Ewing was awfully impressive in his major league debut Tuesday night. Playing center field and batting eighth, he ripped an RBI triple in the seventh inning for his first career hit in a 10-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
“Good. Comfortable. Confident. Excited,” Ewing said when asked to describe how he felt. “It definitely beat my expectations. It’s indescribable what it was like to play up here in a big league stadium. It’s great.”
Ewing became the first Mets player with a triple in his major league debut. But he provided much more, too. He also walked three times, scored twice, drove in two runs, stole a base and flied out to the center-field warning track.
In total, exactly the sort of jolt the sagging Mets (16-25) were seeking.
“Man, he was pretty much perfect at the plate today,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He was just under control from the very beginning. And like I said, it’s pretty impressive.”
Ewing received a warm ovation from the Citi Field crowd of 36,382 before his first plate appearance, and he worked a seven-pitch walk from starter Jack Flaherty that loaded the bases with one out in the second.
“I just think that’s kind of part of my identity as a hitter is I’m patient. I see a lot of pitches and I make pitchers work hard,” Ewing said. “Just looking around when I got to first base for the first time, that was when it kind of hit. ... Like wow, this is baseball.”
Desperate to spark a stagnant lineup, New York brought Ewing to the majors after he had played only 58 games above High-A ball.
The high-priced Mets began the day ranked 29th among the 30 big league teams in batting average (.222), tied for last in runs (139) and stuck at the bottom by far with a .628 OPS.
“I’m confident in my ability and I’m just going to play the same game that I’ve been playing,” Ewing said before the game. “It’s awesome to be here and I’m ready to go.”
Luis Robert Jr., the team’s opening-day center fielder, is on the injured list with a lumbar spine disk herniation. New York is also missing star shortstop Francisco Lindor and first baseman Jorge Polanco because of injuries.
“The situation the big league club is in and the opportunity that’s here right now is certainly part of it. But we would not have made the decision to promote A.J. if we didn’t think he was ready for the moment,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said.
Utility player Andy Ibáñez was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Ewing, who walked again in the sixth and stole second. He was the club's second-ranked minor league prospect behind pitcher Jonah Tong, according to MLB.com.
The left-handed hitter was batting .326 with three doubles, a triple and four RBIs in 51 plate appearances at Syracuse. He had drawn five walks, stolen five bases and scored nine runs.
“There was a lot to like from the very beginning of spring training watching him play and go about his business. The energy, the passion, the smile, and then the tools. You know, the skill set that he brings. It was just eye-opening, to be honest with you,” Mendoza said.
“Obviously, he can help you win baseball games in a lot of different ways. Defensively, baserunning. Offensively it’s a simple swing, simple approach, short to the baseball, uses the whole field. And the makeup of the player. Even though he’s only 21, he’s pretty mature and he’s super consistent. That shows us that, hey, let’s give him an opportunity here.”
Ewing stole 70 bases in 81 attempts combined at three minor league levels last year. He also played second base and both corner outfield spots in the minors, but Mendoza said the Mets will primarily keep him in center initially to help him acclimate to the majors.
“Pretty well-rounded player right now. There aren’t a ton of holes in his game,” Stearns said. “And then there is this ability to handle different situations. He’s a pretty mature kid for a young player. He’s demonstrated that throughout his time in our system. That doesn’t mean this is going to go flawlessly for him.”
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Ewing reached Double-A Binghamton last year, hitting .339 in 28 games, and batted .349 with a 1.053 OPS and 12 steals in 18 games at that level this season before getting promoted to Syracuse.
He was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Springboro High School in Ohio with the pick the Mets received as compensation for losing Jacob deGrom in free agency.
Ewing said his nerves were dissipating as game time approached. He said his father would be in the Citi Field stands Tuesday night along with some close family friends.
“As soon as I got drafted it was like a dream of mine to play here,” Ewing said. “I’m ready to compete.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing (9) walks in dugout before a baseball game against Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing (9), right, and New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge (3), left, talk before a baseball game against Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) throws to first base after forcing New York Mets' A.J. Ewing (9) out at second base during the second inning of a baseball game , Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing (9), left, stands on first base drawing a walk during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing (9) warms up before a baseball game against Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
