Dominika Stanley, left, the mother of Aiyana Jones, seven, sits next to Aiyanas father Charles Jones in Southfield, Michigan in 2010. All rights reserved. Weekley claims his MP5 sub-machine gun fired when Aiyana's grandmother, Mertila Jones, slammed his gun with her hand. 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. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. 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). It was the first time any family member had stood in front of Weekley and directly accused him. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Charges officially dismissed against officer Joseph Weekley WXYZ 7 Action News is metro Detroit's leading source for breaking news, weather warnings, award-w. 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 An anonymous Detroit official told Mother Jones in 2010 that using the grenade was "not protocol.". Weekley told jurors that he accidentally pulled the trigger during a struggle with the girl's grandmother, but Mertilla Jones denied interfering with the gun. Aiyana's parents, Charles Jones and Dominika Stanley, sued Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley on behalf of their daughter's estate. 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. They came to kill, and they killed a 7-year-old.'. Moments earlier, Aiyana was sleeping beneath a "Hanna Montana" blanket on the couch next to her grandmother. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. The fact that a police officer received such a hefty sentence is a win for victims of police misconduct across the country. DETROIT The SWAT team member whose gun, authorities say, killed 7-year-old Aiyana Jones Sunday during a raid at her home has been identified, and details about his police record have been released. Atkins, Virginia Tack welded trailer frames, wired up refrigeration units and ran all the electrical components for each trailer. After two trials without result, police officer Joseph Weekley will not face another trial for fatally shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a sleeping seven-year-old, during a 2010 raid filmed by a . He says he accidentally fired his gun during a. The trial for Weekley, a white officer, in the death of a black child has caused some to draw parallels to the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed teen fatally shot by Police Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, in August. 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. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Part of HuffPost Crime. He also helped organize a recent event called Run With the Cops, Not From Them. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. ID 321.) Whatever this website says about the law is presented in the context of how we or others perceive the applicability of the law to a set of circumstances if one of us (or some other author) was in the circumstances under the conditions discussed. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Last week, a neighbor testified that he tried to tell officers before they raided the home that children were inside. Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones four days before a civil trial was to begin. 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. A 17-question survey given to prospective jurors on Monday included four questions related to the Ferguson shooting, according to The Detroit News. Aiyana Mo'Nay Stanley-Jones (July 20, 2002 - May 16, 2010) was a seven-year-old African-American girl from Detroit 's East Side who was shot in the neck and killed by police officer Joseph Weekley during a raid conducted by the Detroit Police Department's Special Response Team targeting a suspect in the apartment a . As he was trained, Weekley testified his finger was outside the trigger guard when he entered the home carrying a large ballistics shield that he dropped almost immediately after entering the home. She died a short time later. 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. This website does not provide legal advice. The event raised funds for kids with cancer. Weekley was also cleared of wrongdoing in a non-fatal shooting in 2009, when he returned fire from a man aiming at officers, according to The Detroit News. Sleeping 7-year-old girl shot in head during no-knock police raid on wrong home Weekley was indicted in 2011 and charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, as well as the careless discharge of a firearm causing death. 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. Under cross-examination Monday, Jones said the officers were negligent. The death of Aiyana, who was black, has since been a rallying point for Detroit activists, who say the girl has not received justice. Jennifer Joseph Expand search. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, emitting smoke, bright light and vibrations to confuse anyone inside. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. "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. # 22-13, Pg. Another question asked whether jurors had seen reports of "the so-called military equipment by police departments here and elsewhere that might influence your decision in this case," drawing a parallel between the law enforcement methods used in Detroit and those employed by Ferguson police officers during the protests that followed Brown's death. We hope this resolution will provide everyone involved a measure of closure," Garcia said in a statement. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The officers also claimed Few had a weapon, that was also a lie. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File) During the heartbreaking trial, Chris Few, Jeremy's dad, noted that Stafford and officer Norris Greenhouse Jr. immediately started firing with no warning when they stopped him on that fateful night. Police1 is revolutionizing the way the law enforcement community (John T. Greilick/Detroit News via AP, File) and 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. Armed with MP5 submachine guns, adrenaline, and an unhealthy fear for officer safety, the raiders shuffled past the toys that littered the front yard and ignored the two distinct street address signs hanging on either side of the shared porch of the multi-unit building; 4056 was on the left, 4054 was on the right. He says he accidentally fired his gun during. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. The bullet struck and killed Aiyana. I understand there is a certain part of the public that is crying foul on this. 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. Recent protests and conversations among activists have linked Aiyana's death to the death of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, last month. Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway declared a mistrial in the case for the second time after the first trial ended in a hung jury in June 2013. Yahoo News Yahoo News . But race, the jurors said, never played a role in deliberations, despite the fact that Weekley is white, and Aiyana was black. It is not clear what his role in the nonfatal shooting was, but Godbee said he was cleared and it was determined that he acted appropriately. 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. The law is a gray area at best. Mertilla Jones, who. Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge For Cop Who Shot 7-Year-Old To Death. Then-Police Chief Warren Evans resigned from his post several months later, after authorities discovered he was pitching a reality show called "The Chief.". When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current . Judge Hathaway told the jurors: 'These things happen., But the little girl's distraught uncle Londell Fields said: 'I don't understand how we can go through this again and have all this evidence brought forth and there not be a verdict either way. Copyright 2023 Police threw a stun grenade through a window, and Weekley was the first officer through the door. Fishman was referring to the prosecution, not the defense. He insists he accidentally fired his gun during a. The judge dismissed the charge after defense attorney Steve Fishman said prosecutors didn't show that Weekley acted willfully. 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. Police disputed the Westbrooks' version of events, according to the Free Press, but the case was settled late in 2010, some time after Aiyana's death. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. A fellow officer is said to have thrown a flash-bang grenade, and Weekley fired his gun shortly after, killing the 7-year-old girl, who was sleeping on the couch. We do not practice law. The company's filing status is listed as Suspended - Ftb and its File Number is 2555616. Officer Joseph Weekley was first through the door and after a flash-bang grenade went off, he fired his gun, killing Aiyana. Yetthe group of 12 was almost split down the middle over whether to acquit or convict Weekley on a misdemeanor charge of careless, reckless or negligent use of a firearm causing death. This was an emotional case, the jury foreman told the media afterward. 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. All too often we see police officers murder the innocent only to be exonerated by a grand jury or acquitted during a trial. The only full justice would be to bring Aiyana back and I can't do that.". 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. The afternoon of May 14, Je'Rean had just bought an orange juice at a liquor store when he had a confrontation with a man named Chauncey Owens, 38. Mark Diaz, union president of the Detroit Police Officers Association, said he was disappointed by the decision. 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.". HuffPost reporter Radley Balko wrote last year that reality shows profiling police actions support a growing "police-industrial-entertainment complex": Over the last decade or so, the cable dial has been stuffed full of programming that serves to make us more comfortable with police units that treat neighborhoods like battlefields. However, in Jeremy's case, they seem to be making ground for now. "I knew it was my gun that went off because I was right there," Weekley said. "He won't be in the field.". It was a little after midnight when the Detroit Police Special Response Team, a unit similar to a SWAT team, descended on the Stanely-Jones residence in search of murder suspect Chauncey Owens, who lived upstairs. But the shot killed Aiyana. Officer on trial: Joseph Weekley testifies in his own defense Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). 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. The prosecution will file an emergency appeal with the Court of Appeals, according to the Detroit News. The kids are having a great time and we're just really happy for the children," Weekley said on the videotape. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. Last week, she was escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. Officer Weekley, who is white, is still free. 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. Officer Joseph Weekley still faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in the death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Download the Yahoo News app. There were no threats. 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. 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. A Special Response Team shattered a familys window in the middle of the night, hurled a flashbang onto a couch next to a sleeping girl, then charged in and shot her in the head. A flash-bang grenade shattered the front bay window and exploded seconds before the Weekley-led Special Response Team barged though the front door. According to ABC local afiliate WXYZ, evidence presented in court Thursday showed that neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. and Jurors later told the judge they couldnt reach a verdict. "We're really happy to help out any way we can. 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. 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 justice system did not work in this case, he said. Officer Joseph Weekley had been charged in the death of Aiyana Stanley Jones. A former high school classmate of Dixon, Greenhouse had started messaging her on Facebook and had come by the house Few and Dixon were sharing at the time. The only thing he saw upon entering the home on Lillibridge in Detroit was a "pile of clothes" on a couch by the entrance and a 19-inch TV flickering in the dark room. Part of HuffPost Black Voices. Time spent in the car between cases or office meetings. Officer Joseph Weekley says the victim's grandmother grabbed his weapon during a midnight raid. 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. interacts online and researches product purchases His lawyer later described it as a tragic accident. The film. Aiyana Stanley-Jones was 7 years old when Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley "accidentally" shot her as she lay sleeping in her grandmother's home. Weekley testified the grandmother struck his weapon and caused him. "The guy was just pointing right there and Aiyana [was] hit," Jones testified last year. As a medical device rep, it's common knowledge that we have a lot of "window time". He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Who Is DPD Officer Joseph Weekley? They found Owens upstairs and arrested him. They've criticized the nighttime raid and the possible use of excessive force, particularly the use of a flash-bang grenade. In 2007, police raided the home of Martin Westbrook, who at that time was allegedly already in custody for an armed robbery. Ron Scott, founder of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, has represented Aiyana's family since the shooting. In at least one of those other raids, Weekley and his team were accused of using unnecessary force. 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. It should be of no surprise then, when we learn of SWAT raids not just for low-level drug crimes, but also for zoning violations or underage drinking, or that there are now police departments in America that serve every felony search warrant with a SWAT team, regardless of the crime. 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. Police sources also have told Local 4 that DPD?s SWAT team has been put on hold until further notice. Then, officers stormed the house and once inside, a round from Weekley's sub-machine gun struck Aiyana in the head while she slept on a couch. Weekley's submachine gun fired seconds after a stun. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that her office was moving to dismiss the case against Officer Joseph Weekley. This website is to expose government corruption, law enforcement corruption, political corruption, and judicial corruption. Anthony Potts recalled the night 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed during a police raid. According to the Detroit Free Press, prosecutors allege that Owens told Je'Rean: "Stay right here. Police, being filmed by A&E's "The First 48," were looking for Chauncey Owens, who has since been convicted of killing 17-year-old Je'Rean Blake outside a nearby party store. Officer Joseph Weekley fatally shot the young girl in what he claimed was an alleged struggle with Jones's grandmother, Mertilla Jones, though she says she had just reached over to protect the. 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 shot Stanley-Jones in 2010 during a botched police raid in search of a murder suspect. Jones had previously said the shot came from outside the house. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. Unfortunately, a beautiful little girl, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, lost her life because of his reckless and violent actions. 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. 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. To read the full Conyers story, click here. and manufacturers. Westbrook and his wife sued Weekley and other members of the SRT for assault, false imprisonment and gross negligence, alleging that officers came into the home without warning, shot and killed the family's two dogs for no reason and pointed guns at a child and infant, according to the complaint. I know in my heart and before God that what transpired that day was out of my control, but I will still have terrible grief weigh upon me every day for the rest of my life, his statement said. 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. Associated Press It was about 9:30 AM. Hathaway then granted the prosecution's request for a stay on her decision and adjourned court until Monday. DPD Spokesman John Roach said the Detroit Police Department SWAT team member is 34-year-old officer Joseph Weekley. 'They knew there were children in there. In February, Owens was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. Weekley told jurors: I just feel devastated and depressed. 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. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The raid was recorded for a police reality TV show, The First 48, but there was no footage from inside the house. Jury selection starts on Monday in Wayne County court, 15 months after Weekleys first trial ended with jurors unable to agree on a verdict. Officer Joseph Weekley was charged in connection with Jones' death. 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. Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones four days before a civil trial was to begin. Police staged a so-called safety briefing shortly before the raid; undoubtedly focusing on their own safety rather than the safety of unknown innocents behind the doors they were about to kick in. The raid occurred after midnight, and Weekley was first through the door of the Stanley-Jones home on the east side of Detroit, as a film crew shadowing the officers filmed for a reality television show. 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. Godbee said Weekley is involved in several charitable events for the DPD, including one that raises money for children of domestic violence victims. He was swinging his weapon to point toward the couch, Weekley testified, when Aiyana's grandmother, Mertilla Jones -- who had been sleeping on the couch with the girl -- smacked his weapon, an MP5 submachine gun, with her hand, causing him to pull the trigger. He spotted housemate Vincent Ellis standing in a doorway just before a stun grenade exploded, temporarily blinding him. Moments ago, one of the cops who killed 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis while on duty, was sentenced to an unprecedented 40 years in prison. Fishman said that for involuntary manslaughter to be proved, the prosecution would need to demonstrate that his client acted in a "grossly negligent manner" in the circumstances leading to Stanley-Jones' death. Two days before the raid 17-year-old Je'rean Blake was standing outside a neighborhood convenience store when he was shot to death following a dispute. 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. Officer Placed At Desk Job DETROIT - The SWAT team member whose gun, authorities say, killed 7-year-old Aiyana Jones Sunday during a raid at her home has been. Opening statements in Weekley's new trial are scheduled to begin this week in the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit. Weekley's fingerprints and DNA were also not found on the gun. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. A trial in 2007, police raided the home that children were inside, direct from Guardian! Door and officer joseph weekley a stun grenade through a window, and they killed 7-year-old! 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