Reginald Doucet Jr.

MONTEREY, Calif. - A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of Reginald Doucet Jr., a former star athlete at North Monterey County High School who was shot to death by the LAPD.

Doucet's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit after the 25-year-old was fatally shot by LAPD officers on Jan. 14, 2011.

The federal judge dismissed the case on qualified immunity grounds.

The City of Los Angeles' claimed that the LAPD officers acted in self-defense. The judge sided with the city, ruling their claim was "reasonable" under the law.

Doucet's family's attorney, Brian Dunn, said he will appeal the judge's ruling and the lawsuit is far from over.

Doucet was born and raised in Prunedale. Standing at 6-feet tall and 190 pounds of muscle, he went to Middle Tennessee State on a football scholarship.

After college, he worked in Salinas and Los Angeles as a personal fitness trainer and model.

Police said they were called to the athlete's apartment in the Playa Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles because Doucet was "yelling and behaving erratically."

Doucet punched two LAPD officers in the face and tried to grab one officer's gun, according to the LAPD.

Police shot an unarmed Doucet twice and he died in the hospital.