The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into an alleged officer-involved shooting and the alleged beating of another suspect in Rankin County that occurred in late January.
According to a GoFundMe post by Mary Jenkins, Michael Corey Jenkins was taken to the emergency room at UMMC in the morning of January 25 with a gunshot wound to the mouth. She said she was told that he had been tased, beaten, and shot in the mouth while handcuffed by Rankin County deputies. She alleged that a witness told her that the officers involved had tased him repeatedly, trying to figure out whose “taser was the strongest.”
Black Lives Matter Restoration Polk Inc. posted on Facebook that Eddie Terrell Parker was also beaten and tased by police in the incident and alleges that he provided the information for their allegations.
Sheriff Bryan Bailey confirmed the officer-involved shooting, saying that it occurred during drug enforcement activities on January 24.
“Multiple suspects were taken into custody and we contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations to investigate the actions of our deputies,” Bailey said. “We are fully cooperating with that ongoing investigation and will continue to do so.”
Bailey Martin, the spokesperson for MBI, said “The incident in question is being thoroughly investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. This is an open and ongoing investigation; no further comment will be made at this time.”
At the time of the incident, MBI had sent a press release that stated, “Rankin County Sheriff’s Department deputies were conducting a narcotics investigation when they encountered a subject that displayed a gun towards the deputies. The subject was transported to a nearby hospital. The officers received no injuries.”
Black Lives Matter Restoration Polk Inc. alleges that the deputies involved did not knock at the residence and threatened Jenkins and another witness, tasing them multiple times and putting guns in their faces and in their mouths.
“Michael has been clinging to his life and he is unable to talk, only write,” their post read. “Michael has confirmed in writing that he was in fact handcuffed when shot by deputies. For several weeks since being shot, Michael has been in ICU at UMMC on life support. Michael suffered severe injuries to his mouth and head including having his tongue surgically removed, permanent damage to eyesight and hearing, and suffering severe debilitating cognitive injuries.”
Sheriff Bailey said he can’t comment very much at all on the allegations, but had strong words to describe his dedication to getting to the truth.
“Rest assured. If any deputy or suspect involved in this incident is found to have broken the law, he will be held accountable in accordance with the law,” he said. “We will not provide any further details regarding this incident until all investigations and criminal proceedings are complete.”
Both Parker and Jenkins were charged in the incident. Jenkins was charged with assaulting an officer and drug possession, while Parker was charged with possession of paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
A news conference is set for 3 p.m. by Black Lawyers for Justice at The University of Mississippi Medical Center. They released their demands on Facebook, saying they want the following:
1. Criminal charges be filed against all six officers involved.
2. All body camera footage to be released.
3. Rankin County responds immediately to all Freedom of Information Act requests pursuant to this incident.
This is a developing story.
