Wayne County Judge Cynthia Hathaway said Weekley's trial will start Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 as planned. The event raised funds for kids with cancer. DETROIT, MI -- It's been five years since Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley led a SWAT team in search of a murder suspect and fatally shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge For Cop Who Shot 7-Year-Old To Death. "He's heartsick, because he lost his daughter and he got charged with something he didn't do," Weiss said of Jones. Officer Joseph Weekley still faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in the death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. The justice system did not work in this case, he said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Especially for | 12 comentarios en LinkedIn City attorney Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones on Thursday, April 4, 2019 four days before a civil trial was to begin. Case in point: Officer Joseph Weekley. Final charges against Joseph Weekley, a police officer who shot dead a 7-year-old girl, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, in Detroit in May 2010, were dismissed on Friday, leaving a family bereft and raising serious concern among national groups over an increasingly militarized police force. Nov. 15Trust deeds This list includes trust deeds (to secure repayment of a loan) of $750,000 or more. 18:48 GMT 19 Jun 2013 The shield seemed unnecessary, Weekley testified. The Huffington Post has compiled an extensive background on what we know happened before, and since, Aiyana Stanley-Jones lost her life. Associated Press. The Special Response Team arrived in its armored vehicle with a warrant to arrest Chauncey Owens, who was known to stay with his fiance at 4056 Lillibridge Street. All he had to do is follow his training and we wouldn't be here.'. This button displays the currently selected search type. Your source for Local information & breaking news across southeast Michigan plus 4Warn Weather providing you with accurate forecasts so you can plan your day. Owens was later convicted of murder in the death of 17-year-old Je'rean Blake, who was fatally shot outside a convenience store days before the raid. Who Is DPD Officer Joseph Weekley? He has been a member of the SWAT team for six years, and on the Detroit police force for 14 years. Weekley is being retried after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year in . He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. The girl was shot in the head while she slept on a couch. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. Then-Police Chief Warren Evans resigned from his post several months later, after authorities discovered he was pitching a reality show called "The Chief.". DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, The family was awarded $8.25 million for the accidental death of the 7-year-old during a raid. The city of Detroit has reached an $8.25 million settlement with the family of . "He's on vacation now, but when he returns, he'll be in a limited duty capacity," Craig told Hunter. Watch: Who Is The Officer Involved In Girl's Shooting? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Joseph Weekley charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of Aiyana Jones after he was 'grossly negligent' with handling gun during a raid, Claims pulled gun trigger accidentally during scuffle with her grandmother. Weekley says the MP5 only weighs six pounds and has almost no recoil, which is why he didn't initially know it had fired. DPD Spokesman John Roach said the Detroit Police Department SWAT team member is 34-year-old officer Joseph Weekley. Here's the video A&E's cameras captured at the Stanley-Jones residence: The episode that would have featured footage from that night ultimately never aired. Mertilla Jones, who witnessed Detroit police officer Joe Weekley shoot her granddaughter Aiyana in May 2010, speaks at Grand Circus Park on July 14, 2013 in Detroit. The Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting. After Aiyana's death, the mayor banned police from working with reality TV crews. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). (Dkt. Detroit Officer Joseph Weekley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. Owens was suspected of having killed a teenager a few days earlier, a charge for which he would eventually be convicted. Unfortunately for the family of little Aiyana, justice failed them. As the Associated Press reports,Ruth Wisher, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Jeff Landry's office, said Stafford was sentenced to 40 years for manslaughter and 15 years for attempted manslaughter. He told The Huffington Post that he questioned the motives of officials who "zealously" went after the father of a girl shot by a cop, describing the prosecution's case as extremely thin. Under cross-examination Monday, Jones said the officers were negligent. Weekley is also charged with careless discharge of a weapon causing death, a misdemeanor that might not carry a jail sentence if he is convicted, according to the Detroit News. Detroit Police Chief James Craig told George Hunter of the Detroit News last week that Weekley was restored to active duty April 2. (John T. Greilick/Detroit News via AP, File), FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Dominika Stanley wipes away tears after Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway declares a mistrial after a jury said they cannot reach a verdict in a criminal trial against Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley, accused of shooting her daughter Aiyana Stanley-Jones, at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, in Detroit. Howard received a sentence of two years' probation. Police neglected to account for or flatly disregarded the safety of any potential children that might be present. Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley was spared a felony conviction on Tuesday over the killing of a 7-year-old girl after a jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared,according to Detroit Free Press. He said Detroit police are trained to push away anyone who tries to grab an officers gun or to move the weapon in a J shape to keep control of it. All rights reserved. They found Owens upstairs and arrested him. Sally LaBorde, a passenger in the van Dixon was driving, also testified, saying she could clearly see Few pointing to Jeremy in the car, and the implication was unmistakable that he wanted Dixon to take care of his son, according to the Advocate. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, emitting smoke, bright light and vibrations to confuse anyone inside. The Detroit police officer who killed seven-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones will not be retried. If convicted, Weekley could face up to 15 years behind bars. Officers were briefed that theyd be entering a possible dope den, in which the suspect might be armed and might even possess dangerous dogs.. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Anthony Potts recalled the night 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed during a police raid. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. Davis, the officer who tossed the stun grenade, said the team was unaware children were inside. They kept firing.". We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. Je'Rean called his mom to come pick him up, but before she arrived, Owens returned and shot the teen. The raid was being filmed for an episode of The First 48, and many believe the excessive tactics used were employed simply to create drama and excitement for the camera. But race, the jurors said, never played a role in deliberations, despite the fact that Weekley is white, and Aiyana was black. We hope this resolution will provide everyone involved a measure of closure," Garcia said in a statement. A Detroit police officer accused of manslaughter in the death of a 7-year-old girl will go on trial this week, as national attention remains focused on the militarization of U.S. law enforcement. The city of Detroit has reached an $8.25 million settlement with the family of Stanley-Jones, who was accidentally killed by Weekley during a 2010 raid. All too often we see police officers murder the innocent only to be exonerated by a grand jury or acquitted during a trial. The little girl, 7 years old, died instantly. However, the Clerk of Court, the District Attorneys Office, Marksville Police Department, and City Court noted that they did not have any warrants against him. By This button displays the currently selected search type. Officer Weekley, who is white, is still free. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. "There is absolutely no evidence, none, that's in the least bit credible, that Officer Weekley knowingly created a danger or, more importantly, intended to cause injury," Fishman said in court Friday. They're looking to protect," said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Wednesday. Weekley told jurors: I just feel devastated and depressed. They said that theynever agreed unanimously, but listened to each others view points, took three votes and had some jurors shift sides. Weekley, a member of an elite police squad, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Aiyana, who was shot in the head in May 2010 while sleeping on her grandmother's couch. Aiyana Mo'Nay Stanley-Jones (May 16, 2010): Jones, a seven-year-old Black girl, was shot in the head by Detroit officer Joseph Weekley during a raid on the apartment above hers. That the ten-year-anniversary of Aiyana's death passed largely unacknowledged, . All rights reserved. I don't understand how we could go through this again and have all this evidence brought forth and there not be a verdict, either way.. Assistant Police Chief Ralph Godbee said Weekley was investigated after he was involved in a barricaded gunman shooting last summer. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. The officers entered Stanley-Joness home searching for a murder suspect who was later found in the adjacent unit, throwing a flashbang grenade into the room where the girl was sleeping with her grandmother, then shooting her in the head seconds later. "Innocent people do not run from the police. Police said Weekley came into contact with Aiyana?s grandmother, Mertilla Jones, when they busted through the door in the early hours of Sunday morning and his weapon accidentally fired. His attorney, Leon Weiss, calls the verdict "contradictory and compromised," pointing out that it found Jones not guilty of having a gun and yet suggested that he was guilty of second-degree murder for giving Owens a gun. Chauncey Owens, whom police were searching for in the raid, was eventually arrested in a second-floor unit of the duplex where the girl and her family lived. Weekley's submachine gun fired seconds after a stun. She said she'd initially been asleep on the couch with Aiyana, but that she was on the floor when Weekley shot his weapon, not close enough to touch the gun. Marksville, LA Moments ago, in one of the stiffest sentences ever handed down to a cop for killing an innocent person while on duty, one of the Marksville police officers who killed 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Some jurors felt Weekley, should not have allowed his gun to discharge because of his training as a member of the Special Response Team, while others could not determine what happened. One of the most important questions that jurors needed to answer was whether the discharge of the weapon was a result of the defendant's carelessness, recklessness or negligence. Opening statements in Weekley's new trial are scheduled to begin this week in the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. How A Police Officer Shot A Sleeping 7-Year-Old To Death, the militarization of U.S. law enforcement, charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, could have affected how the police executed their search warrant, prosecutors allege that Owens told Je'Rean, gave Owens the gun he used to kill Je'Rean, serving a prison sentence of 40 to 60 years, disputed the Westbrooks' version of events, cleared of wrongdoing in a non-fatal shooting in 2009. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. At the beginning of the case, jurors were asked to decide the officer's fate. Copyright 2023 By The prosecution will file an emergency appeal with the Court of Appeals, according to the Detroit News. Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, insists he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyana's grandmother grabbed his gun as officers burst through the door of her home. According to the Greenhouse and Stafford, the officers decided to conduct a traffic stop because Few had an outstanding warrant. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. The Michigan Supreme Court last Septembercleared the way for a trial or settlementwhen it declined to hear an appeal after two courts ruled a jury could decide whether Weekley's actions amounted to gross negligence. He claims he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyanas grandmother, Mertilla Jones, grabbed his gun. It was Owens they were after. AP Photo by Carlos Osorio. Daily Mail Reporter Weekley was indicted in 2011 and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, as well as the careless discharge of a firearm causing death. Dixon's testimony did confirm that Few was, in fact, attempting to wave her down and pointing at Jeremy. FILE - In this June 18, 2013 file photo, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley stands in Judge Cynthia Hathaway's courtroom at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice during his criminal trial in the 2010 killing of Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a police raid in Detroit. Before the night of Aiyana's death, the News reports, Weekley had made multiple appearances on "The First 48.". Detroit police officer who killed sleeping seven-year-old no longer facing charges. Innocent people stop their vehicles, surrender to the police," defense attorney Jonathan Goins said as hecalled Few "the author of that child's fate," during the trial. A member of an elite Detroit police team failed to follow his training when he stormed a house looking for a murder suspect with his finger on the trigger and shot a 7-year-old girl who was asleep on the couch, a prosecutor said Thursday at the start of an involuntary manslaughter trial. Was she not. This website is to expose government corruption, law enforcement corruption, political corruption, and judicial corruption. Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. Prosecutor Rob Moran argued: 'His training says, keep your finger off the trigger. But Aiyana's great-uncle Fields added that he thought Weekley should apologize and say he made a mistake. Meanwhile, Weekley released a statement shortly before the mistrial was declared. He went in there to protect the citizens of Detroit from a man wanted for murder, Diaz said. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to . Find the perfect carolina edgecombe stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. But he was killed in his Tucson home on May 5, 2011, in a SWAT team assault gone awry. That's wrong to me.'. Mertilla Jones, who. Police found Owens in the upstairs flat and he was arrested. The police officer responsible for the shooting, Joseph "Brain" Weekley, is a member of Detroit's SWAT team and was a frequent subject on A&E, whose film crews were also filming the investigation for the documentary TV series The First 48. Weekley had not been on the force since 2010 when he shot a sleeping child in the head during a botched raid executed on the wrong home. According to the Detroit Free Press, Weekley said during his 2013 trial that he'd executed 300 search warrants during his time on the Special Response Team, and had been the first man through the door in about 100 of those. 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