Two officers from the Mississippi Capitol Police, Stephen Frederick Jr. and Michael Rhinewalt, faced manslaughter charges for the shooting death of 25-year-old Jaylen Lewis in 2022. The indictment took place last month following an investigation by a grand jury in Hinds County.
The shooting occurred during a traffic stop on September 25, 2022, after the officers attempted to pull over a vehicle that had run a red light. Reports about the situation remain unclear due to significant redactions in the incident report, but the death certificate confirmed that Lewis sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Although the officers claimed they acted in self-defense, the grand jury found that their belief in needing to use deadly force was not reasonable given the circumstances.
Jaylen Lewis leaves behind two young children, ages four and two. In response to the indictment, Lewis’s mother, Arkela Lewis, expressed relief, stating she felt great joy upon learning of the decision. Additionally, Rhinewalt was previously indicted on separate charges of aggravated assault for allegedly using excessive force during a different traffic stop in the same year, which resulted in another gunshot injury to a woman.
7 Comments
moshiurroney
What about the children left behind? They are the ones who suffer the most in these situations.
Loubianka
There should be a serious dialogue about how officers are trained and the use of deadly force in minor offenses.
Katchuka
Let’s continue to push for reform while also supporting those who have been wronged by the system.
Eugene Alta
I believe in the justice system, and I hope this case leads to meaningful discussions about police reform.
Loubianka
This is just another example of how the justice system fails to protect those who are supposed to keep us safe.
Bermudez
Every time I see these stories, it makes my blood boil. Change is long overdue!
Muchacha
I hope this case brings more awareness to the issue of police violence in America.