SAN DIEGO —— Family members of a man shot and killed by sheriff's deputies Aug. 1 in Vista filed three claims with the county Friday, seeking $30 million in damages for what they allege was "unconstitutional use of force and impermissible racial profiling" leading to the man's death.

Jesus "Chuy" Eduardo Manzo was shot and killed in the city's Townsite neighborhood after fleeing San Diego County Sheriff's Department deputies who had sought to talk to him about a stolen car, authorities have said.

His death was one of three deadly shootings by deputies over a five-day period that began July 28.

The shootings sparked outrage from some community members and attracted heavy media coverage.

Sheriff's officials have called the string of incidents "unprecedented" and have said that race played no part in the shootings.

The claims were filed Friday on behalf of Manzo, his mother and his 4-month-old daughter by attorneys representing the family. A claim must be filed with, and rejected by, a public agency before the agency can be sued.

Manzo's sisters, Maria Melchor and Nancy Mendez, appeared at a news conference in downtown San Diego with the family's attorneys, Gene Iredale and Doug Gilliland.

"I want justice," Melchor said through tears.

Sheriff's and district attorney's office officials have said they are unable to discuss details of the incidents, pending the outcome of separate investigations. The investigations should be complete in three to six months, officials said.

The county has 45 days to review the claims, and accept or reject them; if the review is not completed within the 45-day period, the claim is automatically rejected.

County officials said Friday that they had received the claims, but had not yet begun the process of reviewing their merit.

"A lot of our review of the claim will be contingent on the outcome of the (district attorney's) investigation," said Kapualani Brown, the county's public liability claims supervisor. "Since those reviews take time, this is probably not something we can resolve within 45 days."

Iredale also sent a letter to the Department of Justice and U.S. attorney's office Friday, asking them to investigate the three shootings to explore whether the incidents indicated what he called "serious and systemic civil rights violations."

Iredale said that the string of shootings "indicates a Sheriff's Department that is, at least in that part of the county, out of control," he said.

Attorneys also said Friday that sheriff's officials had denied requests from members of a citizen's review panel who wanted to accompany deputies on patrol duty in Vista. Capt. Rob Ahern of the Vista Sheriff's Station said Friday he had not received any such request.

No other claims have been filed to date in connection with the shootings.

On July 28, deputies shot and killed Sergio Garcia Vasquez, 32, on North Citrus Avenue after pepper spray failed to stop him when he threw a dumbbell at them and charged them, sheriff's officials said.

The next day, a deputy in Vista shot and killed 26-year-old Jorge Ramirez, a parolee and known gang member suspected of a nearby armed robbery as he reached into his clothes while being chased by deputies, officials said. Ramirez was found to have a knife in his clothing, authorities said.

On Aug. 1, a deputy shot and killed Manzo, 23, after a K-9 unit, officials said, failed to stop him as he allegedly fled from deputies on Newport Drive. Authorities said deputies were trying to stop Manzo, who matched the description of a car thief.

Records show that Manzo had been involved in at least five criminal cases and had pleaded guilty to being under the influence of methamphetamine and car burglary.

His sisters acknowledged their brother's past trouble with the law, but said Friday he was not involved with gangs.

"I agree that he made mistakes, but he was a human … and we all have made mistakes," Mendez said in Spanish.

Contact staff writer Anne Riley-Katz at 631-6622 or ariley-katz@nctimes.com.