Three Mississippi police officers from the Jackson City Police Department have been indicted for the death of a black man in custody on New Year’s Eve.
A grand jury in Jackson City indicted former police officers Avery Willis and Kenya McCarty on a second-degree murder charge in the custodial death of a 41-year-old black man named Keith Murriel on Dec. 31st. According to media reports, a third police officer, named James Land, is facing a manslaughter charge.
The police department released hours of footage related to the incident which occurred at an Extended Stay Hotel in North Jackson. Muriel was reportedly stunned 13 times.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba described the behavior of the cop at a news conference as excessive and disproportionate.
“We are on the side of justiceand want to see justice take place,” Mayor Lumumba was quoted as saying by the Clarion Ledger.
Footage of the custodial death was seen by Murriel death before it was released to the media.
“We strive at the Jackson Police Department to create community trust,” Jackson City Police Interim Police Chief Joseph Wade told the media at a news conference on Thursday. “When we fail, we create community distrust.” He asked Jackson residents to continue supporting the city’s hard-working, devoted officers, “who put their lives on the line every single day.”
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