The father of a man who died trying to break up a fight at Los Angeles’ Nickerson Gardens has voluntarily dismissed his lawsuit against the City and County of Los Angeles. The lawsuit, filed in Compton Superior Court, had alleged that police and sheriff’s deputies blocked life-saving aid to his son, Jesse Ryan May, after he was stabbed during the altercation.

On September 5, Judge Elizabeth L. Bradley dismissed the complaint “without prejudice,” meaning it could be refiled at a later date. Court documents did not provide a reason for David May’s decision to drop the case.

“This was a very difficult decision, but at this time, I have asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit,” David May stated in court papers.

The original complaint included claims of wrongful death, civil rights violations, and negligence against Los Angeles City and County law enforcement.

Story Highlights:

• Jesse Ryan May was fatally stabbed while trying to break up a fight at Nickerson Gardens, a Los Angeles public housing complex.

• The lawsuit alleged police and sheriff deputies blocked aid from a nurse and May’s girlfriend.

• Jesse May arrived at St. Francis Medical Center in cardiac arrest and died less than an hour later.

• Father David May requested dismissal of the lawsuit “without prejudice,” keeping the option to refile.

• Claims included wrongful death, civil rights violations, and police negligence.

According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred in the early hours of April 19, 2023. Jesse May was staying at a Nickerson Gardens apartment with his girlfriend when he heard an altercation in the parking lot around 1 a.m.

“I went outside because I heard shouting and saw a fight breaking out between two women and a man,” Jesse May’s father, David May, described. “My son tried to intervene to stop the fight, and that’s when he was stabbed in the leg.”

The complaint alleges that responding Los Angeles Police Department officers and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies prevented both a female acquaintance with nursing experience and later Jesse May’s girlfriend from providing aid. The suit further claimed that law enforcement personnel themselves failed to assist.

Jesse May was rushed to St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, arriving in full cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

“The actions of the officers did not meet the professional standards expected in such emergencies,” the lawsuit stated. “My family has suffered severe emotional distress, and we have incurred substantial funeral and burial expenses.”

David May’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit “without prejudice” means he can still pursue legal action against the City and County of Los Angeles in the future.

The dismissal of the lawsuit leaves questions about the response of Los Angeles police and sheriff’s deputies during the Nickerson Gardens stabbing unanswered. While Jesse Ryan May’s father has paused legal action, the case highlights ongoing concerns over police negligence, emergency aid, and public safety in Los Angeles public housing. The option to refile the wrongful death and civil rights claims remains open, keeping the spotlight on accountability and law enforcement standards.

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