Mississippi Attorney General Declines New Trial for Officer in Fatal Shooting of Black Motorist
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has announced that her office will not pursue a new trial against Mississippi Capitol Police officer Michael Rhinewalt. This decision follows a jury's inability to reach a verdict on a manslaughter charge against Rhinewalt, stemming from the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Black motorist Jaylen Lewis in September 2022. A second officer involved, Steven Frederick, was acquitted of manslaughter. The Attorney General's office stated that in cases of a tie, the benefit of the doubt is given to law enforcement officers. Prosecutors had argued that Lewis and his passenger were unaware they were being stopped by police, as the officers were in unmarked cars and plain clothes with vests. Both officers testified they fired in self-defense, claiming Lewis rammed a police vehicle and drove towards them. Rhinewalt also faces an aggravated assault charge in a separate 2022 shooting incident involving Sherita Harris.
