In January of 2019, 62-year-old Jackson, Mississippi resident, George Robinson, was beaten to death by three police officers and, on August 5, 2020, the officers were indicted for second-degree murder.
What We Know:
- On January 13, 2019, a K-9 unit was in search of the men suspected to be connected to the murder of a local pastor when they came by George Robinson sitting in his white Chevy Impala outside of his Washington Addition home, of which he was a long-time resident. According to the police report, one of the three officers noticed a “hand to hand transaction” and, once he approached Robinson, noticed “a large amount” of money in the car. The officer then told Robinson to exit the vehicle, upon which Robinson notified him that he had suffered a seizure and could not move fast. The officer, along with his two colleagues, then dragged Robinson out of the car, slamming him to the ground head first, and repeatedly kicking and beating him with their flashlights in the head and chest.
- Robinson’s landlord, Ronnie Arnold, witnessed the encounter and recalled one of the officers telling Robinson to “Get your b**** a** on the ground”. Arnold says that he could hear Robinson repeatedly saying the physical force was not needed and telling the officers that he had suffered a stroke and was trying as best he could to comply.
- According to the Jackson Police Department, the officer noticed “minor scratches” on Robinson’s face from his “resisting on the ground”. The report notes that the officers called American Medical Response (AMR) to assess his wounds however, Robinson refused the care and said that he “just want[ed] to go home”. Robinson was released from custody and drove away to the Mustang Motel where his girlfriend stayed, according to his family. Later that night he was hospitalized and he died two days later.
- Hinds County Coroner, Sharon Grisham-Stewart, said in a statement that the state medical examiner found that Robinson died of a subdural hemorrhage, caused by blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the death a homicide.
- The officers, Anthony Fox, Desmond Barney, and Lincoln Lampley, were placed on paid administrative leave following the incident. After an investigation, The Jackson Civil Service Commission ordered all the officers be reinstated to their regular duties. Officers Fox and Barney have been reinstated but at the Clinton Police Department rather than the Jackson department. Officer Lampley was reinstated at the Jackson Police Department at a desk position. All three officers turned themselves in and posted bail on August 4th.
- Since the reinstatement of the officers, Jackson mayor, Chokwe Lumumba, has pushed for a separate investigation by the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, which is lead by District Attorney Jody Owens. In a statement, Lumumba reassured:
“Our administration is committed to ensuring that Jacksonians have an accountable police department. As part of our accountability process, the City of Jackson has implemented a policy to turn all cases involving officer-involved deaths over to the DA for review by a grand jury.”
- Robinson’s family filed a lawsuit against the city in October of 2019, naming the three officers for “brutally, viciously and mercilessly” beating Robinson and violating his civil and constitutional rights. The lawsuit also names AMR for negligence of treatment. Robinson’s family says whatever treatment they provided was negligent and, “Had AMR immediately taken Mr. Robinson to the hospital, he might have survived the vicious, merciless beating he suffered at the hands of the Jackson Police Department.”
- As for the grand jury indictment recently released, the family and community of Washington Addition have received some peace of mind. The family said in a statement,
“For us, the charges prove that George’s life mattered and no one deserves to die the way he did. We are grateful that the District Attorney has taken this action. We have cooperated with the investigation in every way and will continue to do so until we finally get justice for our beloved George.”
Members of the Washington Addition neighborhood describe Robinson as a loving man that would have done anything to help those in his community. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers to the family and community of Mr.Robinson.
