On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department stated that it is investigating possible civil rights violation by a Mississippi sheriff’s department. This comes following a drug raid that transpired last month. It resulted in a Black man suffering a bullet injury to the face.
Lawyers and relatives of Michael Corey Jenkins don’t agree about what occurred on Jan. 24. The attorney says that the attack was racially motivated. However, authorities say that somebody pointed a gun at deputies. They say it happened as the late-night raid ensued at a residence in Rankin County.
Lawyers for 32-year-old Jenkins stated that he was critically wounded by white Rankin County deputies. Jenkins was released from the medical facility Tuesday and attended a press conference on Wednesday. Then, he affirmed that he had been beaten and suffered a gunshot wound to the mouth.
“This is deliberate. This is drawn out…unheard of,” said his attorney, Malik Shabazz.
Shabazz added that deputies never served a warrant prior to making entry into the residence. They quickly subdued Jenkins and someone else, Eddie Terrell Parker.
The lawyer says that for 90 minutes, deputies punched, Jenkins and Parker continuously. They also used Tasers on them as they were in handcuffs.
As they were being held, Parker reported that deputies poured milk over his face. This caused him to struggle to breathe and to fight to keep “from drowning.”
Now, a federal civil rights investigation and a review of the shooting has begun.
It was never noted whether a gun was ever recovered from the home. However, Jenkins was charged with assaulting an officer and drug possession. Parker is facing charges of paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
