Albuquerque family awarded $1 million after SWAT raid destroyed their home
By Amari Saxton
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ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — An Albuquerque family has received a $1 million settlement after losing their home in a deadly house fire resulting from a botched SWAT operation four years ago.
In 2022, the Albuquerque Police Department conducted a raid at the family home of Sundra Coleman in an attempt to execute a warrant on a person who did not live there. Police threw tear gas canisters into the home while trying to make the arrest, causing a fire and ultimately ending with the death of 15-year-old Brett Rosenau and their family dog.
The house was destroyed in the fire, and during the operation, officers held Coleman, her daughter, and her baby grandson at gunpoint. They watched as their home burned down hours later.
The family lost all of their possessions in the fire and struggled with housing instability for several months, having to live in their car.
The attorney general’s office investigated Brett’s death and ruled it “avoidable.” The ACLU of New Mexico and Atkins & Walker Law represented the family in a June 2024 lawsuit filed against the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. The city of Albuquerque agreed to settle its portion of the case for $400,000, and Bernalillo County settled its portion for $600,000.
“I just want to be happy. It’s a day-to-day process of just learning how to live again — learning how to relax. Even though it’s been a tragedy, I can still see light and joy,” said Sundra Coleman, plaintiff and owner of the burned home. “I feel like this [settlement] represents a new foundation and beginning. At this point, after everything we’ve been through, I believe it proves our resilience and shows that my family and I are worth fighting for.”
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