Weekley, a member of an elite police squad, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Aiyana, who was shot in the head in May 2010 while sleeping on her grandmother's couch. Officer Joseph Weekley had been charged in the death of Aiyana Stanley Jones. He would have been charged with second-degree murder.". Joseph Weekley testifying at first trial in June, 2013. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. However, for his family, the outcome of Greenhouse's future trial and the fact that Stafford just got 40 years, are the only things that can provide even a semblance of comfort. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. The trial is expected to last about three weeks. FILE - In this June 18, 2013 file photo, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley stands in Judge Cynthia Hathaway's courtroom at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice during his criminal trial in the 2010 killing of Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a police raid in Detroit. Weekley squeezed his eyes to try and regain his sight, he told the court, and heard a high-pitched moan, like someone "out of breath" coming from beneath the pile of clothes. The event raised funds for kids with cancer. Dominika Stanley, left, the mother of Aiyana Jones, seven, sits next to Aiyanas father Charles Jones in Southfield, Michigan in 2010. We hope this resolution will provide everyone involved a measure of closure," Garcia said in a statement. According to the Detroit Free Press, prosecutors allege that Owens told Je'Rean: "Stay right here. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The hyper-aggressive tactics were made worse by the fact that police had taken it upon themselves to raid both sides of a duplex, when their suspect was only known to reside in one of them. Joseph Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. A member of an elite Detroit police unit is set to stand trial again for killing a seven-year-old girl during a 2010 raid on her house that was captured on video by a reality TV crew. But prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter because they believe he handled his submachine gun recklessly, causing the girls death. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. When Weekley stepped inside, he fired a single shot that went through Stanley-Jones' head. In at least one of those other raids, Weekley and his team were accused of using unnecessary force. Weekley, a member of an elite police unit, was the first officer through the door of her home during a chaotic search for a murder suspect. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office alleged that Weekley's negligence led to Aiyana's death. AP Photo by Carlos Osorio. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Dixon's testimony did confirm that Few was, in fact, attempting to wave her down and pointing at Jeremy. Associated Press The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office announced. Case in point: Officer Joseph Weekley. Unfortunately for the family of little Aiyana, justice failed them. "This was essentially a military assault on a private dwelling," Ron Scott, spokesman for the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, told the Associated Press last year about the raid on the Stanley-Jones home. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. Weekley's colleagues gave him the nickname "The Brain," according to The Detroit News, because he was always thinking. Weekley shot Stanley-Jones in 2010 during a botched police raid in search of a murder suspect. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. Before the night of Aiyana's death, the News reports, Weekley had made multiple appearances on "The First 48.". Chauncey Owens, whom police were searching for in the raid, was eventually arrested in a second-floor unit of the duplex where the girl and her family lived. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. 19:48 GMT 11 Oct 2014, A trial against a Detroit police officer accused of shooting dead a seven-year-old girl ended in a mistrial after the jury became 'hopelessly deadlocked.'. Jury selection starts on Monday in Wayne County court, 15 months after Weekleys first trial ended with jurors unable to agree on a verdict. This may be called Tools or use an icon like the cog. "He's heartsick, because he lost his daughter and he got charged with something he didn't do," Weiss said of Jones. Jurors later told the judge they couldnt reach a verdict. All rights reserved (About Us). This website does not provide legal advice. Mertilla Jones, who witnessed Detroit police officer Joe Weekley shoot her granddaughter Aiyana in May 2010, speaks at Grand Circus Park on July 14, 2013 in Detroit. During the trial, the prosecution sought to show that it was against procedure for Weekley to have his finger on the trigger of the gun and that not following his training caused the girl's death. The trial featured a multicultural jury made up of eight women and four men, four of whom were African Americans. According to Weekley, a fellow officer threw a flash-bang grenade through the window, temporarily blinding him. On the third day of deliberations, loud voices could be heard coming from the jury room. The raid commenced at roughly 12:40 a.m. He has been a member of the SWAT team for six years, and on the Detroit police force for 14 years. testified that he put his gun to her granddaughter's head and pulled the trigger, escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony, misdemeanor that might not carry a jail sentence if he is convicted. According to ABC local afiliate WXYZ, evidence presented in court Thursday showed that neither Jones' fingerprints nor DNA were found on the officer's gun. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. All rights reserved. by a Detroit police officer, Joseph Weekley. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, New police chief hired at N.C. PD after entire police force resigned, 'It's a blessing': 24-year-old takes helm as N.C. police chief, Video: Bystander pins down drunk driver fleeing crash that killed a Texas police officer, SIG Sauer's ROMEO-M17: The future of the Red Dot revolution is here, 'You're going to die today': Driver traps Fla. cop inside car while speeding toward power pole, cleared the way for a trial or settlement, Open the tools menu in your browser. Critics of police militarization have pointed to Aiyana's death when looking at ramifications of the increased use of SWAT teams among local law enforcement. Wake up to the day's most important news. Weekley shot and killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones on the night of May 16, 2010, as officers executed a search warrant on the duplex her family lived in. The base salary for News Anchor ranges from $51,971 to $85,465 with the average base salary of $64,795. Police found Owens in the upstairs flat and he was arrested. ID 321.) Associated Press, FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2014, file photo, Dominika Stanley wipes away tears after Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway declares a mistrial after a jury said they cannot reach a verdict in a criminal trial against Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley, accused of shooting her daughter Aiyana Stanley-Jones, at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice, in Detroit. HuffPost reporter Radley Balko wrote last year that reality shows profiling police actions support a growing "police-industrial-entertainment complex": Over the last decade or so, the cable dial has been stuffed full of programming that serves to make us more comfortable with police units that treat neighborhoods like battlefields. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Assistant Police Chief Ralph Godbee said Weekley was investigated after he was involved in a barricaded gunman shooting last summer. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement that her office was moving to dismiss the case against Officer Joseph Weekley. Last week, a neighbor testified that he tried to tell officers before they raided the home that children were inside. Copyright 2023 Police1. The city of Detroit has reached an $8.25 million settlement with the family of Stanley-Jones, who was accidentally killed by Weekley during a 2010 raid. 'This is a bittersweet outcome: Bitter because Weekley was not convicted, and sweet in that justice for Aiyana Jones will come soon,' said Roland Lawrence. Some jurors felt Weekley, should not have allowed his gun to discharge because of his training as a member of the Special Response Team, while others could not determine what happened. Then-Police Chief Warren Evans resigned from his post several months later, after authorities discovered he was pitching a reality show called "The Chief.". He said he began to realize what happened. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Weekley's fingerprints and DNA were also not found on the gun. Jones was convicted of second-degree murder in Je'Rean's death, though he was found not guilty of first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm or using a firearm during a felony. A Detroit police officer accused of manslaughter in the death of a 7-year-old girl will go on trial this week, as national attention remains focused on the militarization of U.S. law enforcement and police violence perpetrated against people of color. Charges Dismissed Against Joseph Weekley, Cop Who Fatally Shot Sleeping 7-Year-Old. The Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting. As the Free Thought Project reported last week,Officer Derrick Stafford wasfound guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in the horrific fatal shooting of the six-year-old with autism on November 3, 2015. According to the Greenhouse and Stafford, the officers decided to conduct a traffic stop because Few had an outstanding warrant. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File), Paddock Publications, Inc. is an Employee-Owned Company. Mertilla Jones testified that Owens lived in the upper unit with her daughter, LaKrystal Sanders. 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