Prosecutors Won't Seek to Retry Former Officer Who Fatally Shot a Black Motorist in Mississippi
The office said it followed the process after a split verdict left one officer free and another deadlocked in the 2022 shooting case.
- On Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, a Hinds County jury acquitted former Capitol Police officer Steven Frederick Jr. of manslaughter while deadlocking on charges against officer Michael Rhinewalt in the 2022 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jaylen Lewis.
- The defendants testified they acted in self-defense after Lewis rammed their vehicle during the 2022 traffic stop, claiming they fired into his Cherokee to protect themselves and each other.
- Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office announced it will not pursue a new trial against Rhinewalt, stating the agency "followed the process" in its prosecution decision.
- William Drake, father of Lewis, told reporters the verdict adds to unresolved questions about his son's death but said, "I still have faith that justice will be served."
- Rhinewalt faces a separate trial in October for aggravated assault stemming from a 2022 incident where victim Sherita Harris sustained permanent neurological and facial injuries.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Prosecutors won’t seek to retry former officer who fatally shot a Black motorist in Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi’s attorney general said she will not retry a former police officer after jurors failed to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a Black motorist. Jurors on Monday deadlocked on the charge against former Mississippi Capitol Police officer Michael Rhinewalt and acquitted a second...
White officer who killed Black motorist in Mississippi won’t be retried - Los Angeles Wave Newspaper Group
Wire Report JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi’s attorney general said she will not retry a white police officer after jurors failed to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a Black motorist. Jurors Sept. 28 deadlocked on the charge against Mississippi Capitol Police officer Michael Rhinewalt and acquitted a second Capitol police officer, Steven Frederick, who was also charged with manslaughter in the 2022 s…
Prosecutors won't see to retry former officer who fatally shot a Black motorist in Mississippi
Mississippi’s attorney general said she will not retry a former police officer after jurors failed to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a Black motorist. Jurors on Monday deadlocked on the charge against…
Mississippi attorney general won’t seek a new trial for officer in fatal shooting of Black motorist – WTOP News
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi’s attorney general said she will not retry a police officer after jurors failed to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal shooting of a Black motorist. Jurors on Monday deadlocked on the charge against Mississippi Capitol Police officer Michael Rhinewalt and acquitted a second Capitol police...
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