"I seen the light leave out of her eyes.". The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. 17:14 GMT 11 Oct 2014 After prosecutors objected, the judge suspended her decision and ordered a recess until late morning. It was Owens they were after. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, and Weekley was the first officer through the door. Weekley had been facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge. The law is a gray area at best. 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). 'There has not been one single day that has gone by since that day where I have not thought about the loss of Aiyana and I will be haunted by this tragedy for the rest of my life.'. testified that he put his gun to her granddaughter's head and pulled the trigger, escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony, misdemeanor that might not carry a jail sentence if he is convicted. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to . Police threw a stun grenade through a window, emitting smoke, bright light and vibrations to confuse anyone inside. "The only evidence that points to any kind of knowingly creating a danger or intending to cause injury, the only testimony is that of Mertilla Jones, which is by its nature and by comparison to the other testimony, including the medical examiner, is completely and totally unbelievable," Fishman told the judge on Friday. During Weekleys first trial, a fellow officer, Shawn Stallard, testified that he did not see anyone struggle with Weekley. 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. In November 2015,Few's fiance came forward about her relationship to Greenhouse. Nathan Weekley is the brother of Joseph Weekley, a former SWAT officer for the Detroit police force, who was reassigned after fatally shooting 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a May. This website does not provide legal advice. Prosecutors say that Owens then left the store. Mertilla Jones testified that Owens lived in the upper unit with her daughter, LaKrystal Sanders. 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 September cleared the way for a trial or settlement when it declined to hear an appeal after two courts ruled a jury could decide whether Weekley's actions amounted to gross negligence. As the Free Thought Project reported last week,Officer Derrick Stafford wasfound guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in the horrific fatal shooting of the six-year-old with autism on November 3, 2015. Weekley shot Stanley-Jones in 2010 during a botched police raid in search of a murder suspect. The prosecution and defense have offered contradictory depictions of the events leading up to Stanley-Jones' death. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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 and police violence perpetrated against people of color. Then-Police Chief Warren Evans resigned from his post several months later, after authorities discovered he was pitching a reality show called "The Chief.". The jurors, asked that their names not be made public as they explained what happened over four days of deliberations. This was an emotional case, the jury foreman told the media afterward. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File) Jose had just turned in, having worked 12 hours straight at a local mine, when his home was invaded. Weekley was first tried in Stanley-Jones' death last year; a hung jury caused a mistrial. 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. Copyright 2023 Police1. According to the Greenhouse and Stafford, the officers decided to conduct a traffic stop because Few had an outstanding warrant. Police found Owens in the upstairs flat and he was arrested. Lexipol. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. The jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the case againstOfficer Joseph Weekley who was accused of shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a raid on a house for a murder suspect in Detroit. Shooting: Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley testifies during his first trial in Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit, Michigan, his second trial was declared a mistrial on Friday Judge. 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. Sleeping 7-year-old girl shot in head during no-knock police raid on wrong home, Charges Dismissed Against Joseph Weekley, Cop Who Fatally Shot Sleeping 7-Year-Old, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QeD1uUgmKw. All too often we see police officers murder the innocent only to be exonerated by a grand jury or acquitted during a trial. Police neglected to account for or flatly disregarded the safety of any potential children that might be present. The target, Chauncey Owens, was eventually arrested and convicted of killing a 17-year-old boy. Kelley joined the station on February 10, 1986, two months after graduating from the University of Florida. Coward Cop breaks into the wrong home, blames grandmother for having his finger on the trigger and shooting their 7 year old child in the head Killing of Aiyana Jones. Local 4 News every morning. In at least one of those other raids, Weekley and his team were accused of using unnecessary force. ', 'I don't think it's fair because he's a police officer that he gets to get away with this again. Copyright 2023 Detroit Police Chief James Craig told George Hunter of the Detroit News last week that Weekley was restored to active duty April 2. The jury sent a note to Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway saying little progress had been made during the three days of deliberations over the fate of Officer Joseph Weekley, who faced charges of felony . Owens was suspected of having killed a teenager a few days earlier, a charge for which he would eventually be convicted. "The only thing I heard was gunshots. Nobody alleges that Officer Joseph Weekley intended to kill Aiyana Stanley-Jones, who had been sleeping on a couch near the front door when officers burst through around midnight in search of a murder suspect. The. The special response team that arrived at the Stanley-Jones home two nights later was looking for Owens, who was involved with Aiyana's aunt and lived in the flat on the second story. On the night of the shooting on May 16, 2010, police and the Special Response Team went to an address in Detroit's east side to carry out a search for a murder suspect. "Then I started freaking out a little bit.". Lexipol. neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. Weekley was indicted in 2011 and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, as well as the careless discharge of a firearm causing death. Information includes the borrower, lender, address or legal description of the property . , updated Watch: Who Is The Officer Involved In Girl's Shooting? If convicted, he faces a maximum 15-year sentence for the manslaughter charge. Feast day: Mar 19 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. He will serve the sentences concurrently. Weekley was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but a judge dismissed that charge during a second trial in 2014. College No schools to show High school Went to Eastern Montgomery Photos See all photos Others Named Joseph Weekley Joey Weekley Joe Weekley 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. # 22-13, Pg. Officer on trial: Joseph Weekley testifies in his own defense "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Associated Press Besides the glaring presence of toys strewn about the lawn and front porch, it is unlikely that investigators could have missed the presence of four young children and multi-generational family in the opposite unit during their surveillance of the duplex. Je'Rean called his mom to come pick him up, but before she arrived, Owens returned and shot the teen. During the last vote, the panel was split 7 to 5, with seven voting not guilty and five saying Weekley was guilty of the charge. 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. Roland Lawrence of the Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee explained only one juror was African American and that he had 'no confidence in this jury' once he realized the racial disparity. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Joseph Weekley shot Aiyana Stanley-Jones in 2010 Officer charged with involuntary manslaughter. The night of the raid, a camera crew from A&E's "The First 48," a reality show that follows police officers during the first two days of murder investigations, was shadowing Detroit's Special Response Team. 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.. "The guy was just pointing right there and Aiyana [was] hit," Jones testified last year. Search query Photo by Paul Warner/Getty Images. Weekley drives the SWAT team's armored personnel carrier. However, in Jeremy's case, they seem to be making ground for now. During the trial, Steve Fishman, Weekley's attorney, told jurors that the officer mistakenly pulled the trigger during a struggle with Mertilla Jones, the girl's grandmother. When Detroiters rallied last year for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen killed by a neighborhood watchman in 2012, Mertilla Jones addressed the crowd. I understand there is a certain part of the public that is crying foul on this. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. DETROIT -- The city of Detroit reached an $8.25 million settlement Thursday with the family of a 7-year-old girl accidentally killed by a police officer during a 2010 raid. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, 'You're going to die today': Driver traps Fla. cop inside car while speeding toward power pole, cleared the way for a trial or settlement, Open the tools menu in your browser. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. The company's filing status is listed as Suspended - Ftb and its File Number is 2555616. The jury could have convicted Weekley of involuntary manslaughter, a felony, or reckless discharge of a firearm, a misdemeanor. Then I heard verbal commands after they were through firing," Few said. 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. Sleeping 7-year-old girl shot in head during no-knock police raid on wrong home At the beginning of the case, jurors were asked to decide the officer's fate. In a statement released yesterday, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said after two mistrials,. 0:22 After two hung juries, the Detroit police officer charged in the death of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones will not be tried again. Copyright 2003 by ClickOnDetroit.com. If convicted, Weekley could face up to 15 years behind bars. Find the perfect carolina edgecombe stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. He also helped organize a recent event called Run With the Cops, Not From Them. 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