Family of Mississippi Teen Jaheim McMillan’s Demands Justice In His Death At Police Hands
Relatives of a Gulfport, Miss., youth want answers as to why their son was killed by a police bullet and are skeptical as to whether he did anything to warrant being shot.
Jaheim McMillan,died last week of a gunshot wound he suffered when Gulfport police shot him in the head after responding to a report of several people in a car of minors waving guns at motorists last week.
According to the Biloxi Sun Herald, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer confirmed McMillan died Saturday (Oct. 8) after he was taken off life support at USA Hospital in Mobile.
McMillan was a freshman at Gulfport High School and is survived by his mother, Katrina Mateen, and other relatives, who are questioning why police shot and killed the teen.
Taking to social media, Mateen asked why he son and pleaded for answers. “I want my son,” cried Mateen in the video, according to WWL-TV. “Why? Why?”
Gulfport Police Chief Adam Cooper said the shooting happened after there were reports of people pointing guns at passing cars. He says the car those people were in was pulled over near a Family Dollar store.
“They then fled from the vehicle. One of our officers engaged with an armed individual, shots were fired, the suspect was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound," Cooper said.
Mateen questions the police account of her son being armed and says the shooting left him brain dead.
“I feel like if he’s got a chance then I’m not going to pull the plug on him. He can come back, maybe. If he can, I’m going to give him that chance,” said Mateen during an interview Friday, according to the news station.
Over the weekend a vigil was held at the Family Dollar as candles were placed outside doors and signs posted on the business’ windows.
“We’re outraged, we’re heartbroken. Tired is not the word. We’re past tired,” said community activist Marquell Bridges.
The Gulfport Police Department has referred all questions surrounding the case to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation which is now leading the investigation.
