Greater than two years have handed for the reason that premature loss of life of Jaylen Lewis-Drake. Now, his household is lastly getting the justice he deserves after two Capitol cops in Mississippi have been charged in his homicide.
Regardless of the high-profile nature of the case, particulars surrounding what led to officers capturing and killing Drake stay scarce. “I simply need to know what occurred,” Drake’s mom, Arkela Lewis, advised WAPT in 2022. “I need to know have been the [police vehicle] lights pulled on after they pulled my child over.”
Drake was considered one of a number of capturing victims throughout Miss. Capitol police’s anti-crime effort, in accordance with NBC Information. On the evening of Sept. 25, 2022, officers Michael Rhinewalt and Stephen Frederick pulled the daddy of two over for a routine visitors cease. Nonetheless, issues turned south when police started capturing into Drake’s car, allegedly hanging him within the head. He was pronounced lifeless after being rushed to the hospital.
Immediately following Drake’s loss of life Sept. 25, 2022, Commissioner Sean Tindell mentioned in a press release, “Such incidents require an intensive investigation, scrutiny and transparency. Subsequently, any releasable info concerning this incident will likely be made public by the Division of Public Security on the applicable time.”
It took two years for officers Rhinewalt and Frederick to be formally indicted by a grand jury on manslaughter costs, in accordance with NBC Information. Rhinewalt is on unpaid administrative go away however was arrested final week for the killing. He was launched from jail on a $100,000 bond, in accordance with jail data. Officer Frederick resigned from the Capitol Police in 2023 following a drunk driving incident, in accordance with WLBT. He has not been arrested but, in accordance with police.
Regardless of each officers being indicted, Drake’s father, William, says their costs must be extra extreme. “I feel the indictment must be amended to second-degree homicide,” he mentioned in accordance with WJTV. “ manslaughter within the state of Mississippi legislation, that man can do three or 4 years, and he’ll be out.”
William additionally famous this isn’t the primary time officer Rhinewalt had a felony case introduced in opposition to him. He was charged with aggravated assault following the 2022 capturing of Sherita Harris within the head in accordance with WAPT. Harris was a passenger within the car on the time of the visitors cease, which occurred only a month earlier than Drake’s killing. Rhinewalt and one other officer are anticipated to go to trial in June.