Former Mississippi Officers Face Murder Charges in Keith Murriel’s Death, Indictments Announced

The murder charges of the former Mississippi officers come as newly released body camera footage shows the violent arrest of Keith Murriel.

Keith Murriel (Photo: Washington Law Firm, P.C.)

Former Mississippi Officers Face Murder Charges

In a significant development, three former Mississippi officers have been indicted by a grand jury in connection with the death of Keith Murriel.

The incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, involved a violent arrest that was captured on newly released body camera footage.

The grand jury handed down the indictments of the former Mississippi officers on May 12, charging former officers Avery Willis and Kenya McCarty with second-degree murder, and former officer James Land with manslaughter, Scripps News reported.

This decision comes after the police department initially placed the former Mississippi officers on administrative leave following the incident. Subsequently, McCarty was fired in February, while Willis and Land were terminated in April.

The recently revealed body camera footage sheds light on the events leading up to Keith Murriel’s tragic demise. The footage shows the three former Mississippi officers tackling Murriel during his arrest for an alleged trespassing incident at a hotel.

Shockingly, the former Mississippi officers deployed stun guns multiple times, subjecting Murriel to electric shocks. Additionally, Officer McCarty can be seen placing her knee on Murriel’s back while attempting to handcuff him, after which they placed him in the back of a patrol vehicle.

Disturbingly, the camera footage also captured one of the former Mississippi officers using a racial slur to refer to Murriel, who was a Black man. Such behavior raises serious concerns about the officers’ conduct and the potential presence of racial bias.

Tragically, Keith Murriel passed away while in police custody, prompting further scrutiny of the incident and the actions of the former Mississippi officers involved.

READ ALSO: Third Murder Suspect Sentenced To Life For Torturing, Killing Man Forced To Walk Off Cliff In Nevada

Former Mississippi Officers Disappoint Authorities

Addressing the recent developments, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba expressed his disappointment during a news conference. He emphasized that the released footage, made public now that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has completed its inquiry, highlights actions that are excessive, disheartening, and tragic.

Mayor Lumumba stressed that such behavior does not align with the vision of public safety that his administration aims to promote. He also expressed confidence in the desire of the men and women in the Jackson Police Department to uphold a different standard.

The indictments of the former Mississippi officers and the release of the body camera footage mark significant steps in seeking justice for Keith Murriel’s untimely death.

READ ALSO: Murder Suspect Pleads Not Guilty To 2013 Death Of 5-Year-Old Boy Found In Massachusetts