For more than two years, Sherita Harris has been waiting for someone to be held responsible for the bullet that took place in his head when he was riding a car passenger seat in Jackson, Mississippi.
On Friday, the mother of five children finally found a mark.
The office of the Attorney General of Mississippi announced that two police officers in the state have been charged with firing, which caused her face partially paralyzed, permanent reduction in the memorandum and damage to vision and hearing.
“It’s been too long, I thought she had forgotten and was going to sweep the carpet,” said 40 -year -old Harris, his speech was stopped by the bullet wound and was fading. “It brings me a little happiness.”
Mississippi Capital Police Officer Michael Rhine Walt and former officer Jeffrey Walker have been charged with serious allegations of attack by state Grand Jury, who were accused of shooting Harris “in a situation that is highly regarded by human life. Express apathy. ” Rhine Walt and Walker were also accused of shooting Harris’ friend, who was driving. Officers have said that they fired when friend Sanatra Jordan fired at him during the pursuit of which Jordan refuses.
The person was charged in December. The office of the Attorney General of the state announced them on Friday afternoon.
Scott Gilbert, a lawyer representing Rhine Walt, said in an email that the officer worked properly when he fired after shooting by the suspect, and he was convinced that “proved to him in the case. Will go. ”
Walker’s lawyer Francis Springer said in an email that Walker “maintains his innocence, but should not comment before the trial.” Walker is also. Facing federal civil rights charges Making a motor rider killed a motorbike a month before the Harris shooting. That Requested not to be guilty. In this case.
Justin Smith, who represented Harris in a $ 3 million trial against Mississippi officials, said he did not expect the news because the state’s attorney general’s office rarely accuses police officers of firing.
Smith said, “I am surprised and surprised that the AG’s office has taken the initiative and they are charged with officers.”
The office of the State Attorney General Said in a statement That it will not comment on the case because it is in “active legalism”.
The State Department Department of Public Safety, Sean Tandal, who oversees the Capital Police, said in a statement that Rhine Walt has been kept on leave until the internal hearing. He said that Walker left the Capital Police in July 2023.
Since the shooting of Harris on August 14, 2022, the Department of Public Safety has created an internal affairs division to resolve the complaints against the officers. Capital police officers now wear body cameras. Walker and Rhine Walt were not wearing cameras at the time of Harris shooting.
Harris has no remembrance of shooting. The last thing he remembers is his friend, Jordan, who said the police were pulling them. She woke up in a hospital three days later, her face was torn.
As part of a crackdown against crime in Jackson, the two new recruits in Capital Police said that Jordan chased them in the middle of the city after escaping from the traffic stop. Walker testified at the September 2022 hearing that he and Rhine Walt opened fire on the car when Jordan opened fire on him first. Walker described a rotating gun battle that ended in a residential neighborhood. Walker said he saw the items thrown from the car during the pursuit but did not find those items. He said his patrol vehicle was not shot.
Jordan, who has been in jail since the incident, is waiting for a trial on charges of escape and escape attack on police officers, disagreed with Walker’s statement how the chase began, he Which route took and where the bullets were fired. In the letters and interviews, Jordan has said he did not have a gun and threw nothing from the car. He also said that the officers beat him, which was confirmed by a witness in the interview of NBC News. On Friday, they and their lawyers could not reach the comments.
After the pursuit of the chase and the arrest of Jordan, the officers searched the car and no gun was found, Walker testified. But he was injured by the bullet.
The witness had earlier told NBC News that he had heard an officer calling an officer “Oh My God, O my God” after discovering Harris.
Harris said he needed surgery to take a bullet and to repair the left eye and ear. The left part of her face is partially paralyzed, and she is struggling to chew food. He said depression and PTSD suffered. She goes with the help of the caretaker and rarely leaves the house.
Harris said the allegations gave him a little comfort with his pain.
