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. I've got something for you." 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. "Innocent people do not run from the police. Weekley was first tried in connection with Aiyana's death in 2013, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Before Weekley's trial, potential jurors were asked questions related to the Ferguson shooting and if they had seen reports that might influence their decision in the case. ID 321.) Moments earlier, Aiyana was sleeping beneath a "Hanna Montana" blanket on the couch next to her grandmother. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, and Weekley was the first officer through the door. The only full justice would be to bring Aiyana back and I can't do that.". Associated Press When Weekley returned to the family room, he watched Jones straddling her dying granddaughter, speechless and seemingly "in shock." The. 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. Officer Weekley faced his first trial in June 2013. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. 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. 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 he was oblivious to the fact that the bullet was fired from his gun and suspected it was fired by Ellis' gun, whom he pursued into an adjacent bedroom. After two. Weekely could still face a third re-trial. 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. During a raid targeting the apartment on the floor above Stanley-Jones, Officer Joseph Weekley of a SWAT-like team, fired a hand grenade into Stanley-Jones' unit, burning her blanket. On the third day of deliberations, loud voices could be heard coming from the jury room. Photo by Paul Warner/Getty Images. All rights reserved. Report your Judge, Lawyer or Government Office, Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today. But supporters of the seven-year-old victim, Aiyana Jones, said they believe the jury was unable to reach a decision due to race. He said he began to realize what happened. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. 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 claims he accidentally pulled the trigger when Aiyanas grandmother, Mertilla Jones, grabbed his gun. As the Free Thought Project has previously reported, this entire scenario could've been over a relationship. 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. Weekley told jurors: I just feel devastated and depressed. Case in point: Officer Joseph Weekley. The fact that a police officer received such a hefty sentence is a win for victims of police misconduct across the country. If convicted, Weekley could face up to 15 years behind bars. 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. Opening statements in Weekley's new trial are scheduled to begin this week in the Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit. But prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter because they believe he handled his submachine gun recklessly, causing the girls death. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. 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. The only full justice would be to bring Aiyana back and I can't do that.". 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 Crime. 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. Last week, she was escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony. Officer Weekley was indicted on October 4, 2011 by a Detroit grand jury, charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Negligent Discharge of a Firearm in the tragic death of seven year old Alyania Stanley Jones in May 2010. The justice system did not work in this case, he said. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A judge has dropped the felony charge leveled against Joseph Weekley, the Detroit police officer who in 2010 shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones to death. AP Photo by Carlos Osorio. The prosecution and defense have offered contradictory depictions of the events leading up to Stanley-Jones' death. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. 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. 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. 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. The target, Chauncey Owens, was eventually arrested and convicted of killing a 17-year-old boy. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. "The whole reason there was even a chase was for his well-being," he said. He has been a member of the SWAT team for six years, and on the Detroit police force for 14 years. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. The law is a gray area at best. Though many details about the events surrounding Aiyana's death were revealed in the 2013 trial, a number of questions remain unanswered. 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. 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. 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. Davis, the officer who tossed the stun grenade, said the team was unaware children were inside. 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. When Detroiters rallied last year for Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen killed by a neighborhood watchman in 2012, Mertilla Jones addressed the crowd. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Jurors later told the judge they couldnt reach a verdict. This button displays the currently selected search type. Jones had previously said the shot came from outside the house. 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. Spokeswoman Maria Miller said the prosecutors office still believes it has a strong case, which is why it decided to put Weekley on trial again. , updated 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. A member of an elite Detroit police unit is set to stand trial again for killing a seven-year-old girl during a 2010 raid on her house that was captured on video by a reality TV crew. Nov. 15Trust deeds This list includes trust deeds (to secure repayment of a loan) of $750,000 or more. "I seen the light leave out of her eyes.". Sgt. All rights reserved. When asked by prosecutors if knowing children were in the house would have forced police to change raid tactics, Davis responded: 'Probably not.'. Copyright 2023 Last year the city settled with Aiyana's family for $8.25 million. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. theguardian.com. 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The hunt for a murder suspect was being recorded by a crew from 'The First 48,' a police show on A&E Networks. "We're really happy to help out any way we can. "He's on vacation now, but when he returns, he'll be in a limited duty capacity," Craig told Hunter. 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. '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.'. However, in Jeremy's case, they seem to be making ground for now. "I'm out here to fight any way for the other Aiyanas that's to come," she said, "because it ain't stop at just my grandbaby.". Sadly, for Jeremy Mardis, who will never see another Christmas or Birthday or throw the ball with his dad, the reason for the stop that night is irrelevant. Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. The prosecution will file an emergency appeal with the Court of Appeals, according to the Detroit News. Je'Rean called his mom to come pick him up, but before she arrived, Owens returned and shot the teen. Meet Killer CopOfficer Joseph Weekly Detroit Michigan Police Department, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley faces felony conviction. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. However, the juryand the judge did not buy it. 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 Copyright 2023 Police1. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Detroit Police Media Relations Director June West said Weekley returned to active duty on a "restricted" basis "a couple weeks ago.". 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. Officer Joseph Weekley says the victim's grandmother grabbed his weapon during a midnight raid. The film. Weekley shot and killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones on the night of May 16, 2010, as officers executed a search warrant on the duplex her family lived in. That the ten-year-anniversary of Aiyana's death passed largely unacknowledged, . College No schools to show High school Went to Eastern Montgomery Photos See all photos Others Named Joseph Weekley Joey Weekley Joe Weekley 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. Ron Scott, founder of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, has represented Aiyana's family since the shooting. 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. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File) A man rides a bicycle past the house where Aiyana Stanley-Jones was killed in Detroit, Monday, May 17, 2010. 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. 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. Charges officially dismissed against officer Joseph Weekley WXYZ 7 Action News is metro Detroit's leading source for breaking news, weather warnings, award-w. 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. Wake up to the day's most important news. When Weekley regained sight, he realized there was a person on the couch instead of what he'd originally thought was a pile of clothes. "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. Police neglected to account for or flatly disregarded the safety of any potential children that might be present. However, for his family, the outcome of Greenhouse's future trial and the fact that Stafford just got 40 years, are the only things that can provide even a semblance of comfort. 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. According to Weekley, a fellow officer threw a flash-bang grenade through the window, temporarily blinding him. Two days later, the decedent's father filed law suits in both the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Wayne County . 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. Weekley drives the SWAT team's armored personnel carrier. 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. 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. Godbee said Weekley is involved in several charitable events for the DPD, including one that raises money for children of domestic violence victims. Weekley was first through the door, with a shield in one hand and a gun in the other. During the trial, the prosecution sought to show that it was against procedure for Weekley to have his finger on the trigger of the gun and that not following his training caused the girl's death. They were accompanied by a camera crew from a TV reality show called 'The First 48, but the midnight raid was recorded from the outside, not the inside where Aiyana was shot. Weekley has been listed in various paid, off-duty statuses since the shooting early May 16, 2010. 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. When Weekley stepped inside, he fired a single shot that went through Stanley-Jones' head. Time spent in the car between cases or office meetings. Detroit Officer Joseph Weekley is charged with involuntary manslaughter. 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