At the beginning of the case, jurors were asked to decide the officer's fate. The Michigan Supreme Court last Septembercleared the way for a trial or settlementwhen it declined to hear an appeal after two courts ruled a jury could decide whether Weekley's actions amounted to gross negligence. After the mistrial, Dominika Stanley, Aiyana's mother stayed in the courtroom, wiping away tears as she shook her head and held onto a tissue. The Detroit police officer who killed seven-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones will not be retried. Jones told a different story at Weekley's trial last year. During Weekleys first trial, a fellow officer, Shawn Stallard, testified that he did not see anyone struggle with Weekley. 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. Police, being filmed by A&E's "The First 48," were looking for Chauncey Owens, who has since been convicted of killing 17-year-old Je'Rean Blake outside a nearby party store. She died a short time later. That the ten-year-anniversary of Aiyana's death passed largely unacknowledged, . However, in Jeremy's case, they seem to be making ground for now. After prosecutors objected, the judge suspended her decision and ordered a recess until late morning. Nov. 15Trust deeds This list includes trust deeds (to secure repayment of a loan) of $750,000 or more. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current . the group of 12 was almost split down the middle over whether to acquit or convict Weekley on a misdemeanor charge of careless, reckless or negligent use of a firearm causing death. Sadly, for Jeremy Mardis, who will never see another Christmas or Birthday or throw the ball with his dad, the reason for the stop that night is irrelevant. All rights reserved. Report your Judge, Lawyer or Government Office, Report your Judge, Attorney & Public Official Today. Weekley had not been on the force since 2010 when he shot a sleeping child in the head during a botched raid executed on the wrong home. Police threw a stun grenade through a window, emitting smoke, bright light and vibrations to confuse anyone inside. We do not practice law. The target, Chauncey Owens, was eventually arrested and convicted of killing a 17-year-old boy. When Weekley stepped inside, he fired a single shot that went through Stanley-Jones' head. A judge has dropped the felony charge leveled against Joseph Weekley, the Detroit police officer who in 2010 shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones to death. 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. Howard received a sentence of two years' probation. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. Joseph Weekley charged with involuntary manslaughter in death of Aiyana Jones after he was 'grossly negligent' with handling gun during a raid, Claims pulled gun trigger accidentally during scuffle with her grandmother. "We're really happy to help out any way we can. College No schools to show High school Went to Eastern Montgomery Photos See all photos Others Named Joseph Weekley Joey Weekley Joe Weekley All too often we see police officers murder the innocent only to be exonerated by a grand jury or acquitted during a trial. The prosecution and defense have offered contradictory depictions of the events leading up to Stanley-Jones' death. Associated Press They were accompanied by a camera crew from a TV reality show called 'The First 48, but the midnight raid was recorded from the outside, not the inside where Aiyana was shot. Owens was later convicted of murder in the death of 17-year-old Je'rean Blake, who was fatally shot outside a convenience store days before the raid. The only full justice would be to bring Aiyana back and I can't do that.". The hunt for a murder suspect was being recorded by a crew from 'The First 48,' a police show on A&E Networks. Officer Joseph Weekley says the victim's grandmother grabbed his weapon during a midnight raid. A flash-bang grenade shattered the front bay window and exploded seconds before the Weekley-led Special Response Team barged though the front door. One of the most important questions that jurors needed to answer was whether the discharge of the weapon was a result of the defendant's carelessness, recklessness or negligence. Officer Weekley faced his first trial in June 2013. How A Police Officer Shot A Sleeping 7-Year-Old To Death, the militarization of U.S. law enforcement, charged with felony involuntary manslaughter, could have affected how the police executed their search warrant, prosecutors allege that Owens told Je'Rean, gave Owens the gun he used to kill Je'Rean, serving a prison sentence of 40 to 60 years, disputed the Westbrooks' version of events, cleared of wrongdoing in a non-fatal shooting in 2009. "It's my gun that shot and killed a 7-year-old girl," Weekley told Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Moran during his first trial in 2013. Whatever this website says about the law is presented in the context of how we or others perceive the applicability of the law to a set of circumstances if one of us (or some other author) was in the circumstances under the conditions discussed. The girl was shot in the head while she slept on a couch. All rights reserved. Then I heard verbal commands after they were through firing," Few said. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to . found guilty of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. 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. The Registered Agent on file for this company is Joseph Weekley and is located at 141 Duesenberg Drive Ste 7b, Westlake Village, CA 91362. "The police are not just going in looking to hurt people; that's not the case at all. Time spent in the car between cases or office meetings. Sally LaBorde, a passenger in the van Dixon was driving, also testified, saying she could clearly see Few pointing to Jeremy in the car, and the implication was unmistakable that he wanted Dixon to take care of his son, according to the Advocate. Weekley was first through the door, and saw what he thought was an empty room with a man standing in the far doorway, he testified last year. Who Is DPD Officer Joseph Weekley? 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. Weekley has said that the girl's grandmother, Mertilla Jones, who had also been asleep on the couch when police arrived, came up to him and grabbed his gun, causing him to shoot. Joseph / ( dzf) / noun Old Testament the eleventh son of Jacob and one of the 12 patriarchs of Israel (Genesis 30:2-24) either or both of two tribes descended from his sons Ephraim and Manasseh Saint Joseph New Testament the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:16-25). Some video shot from the sidewalk was part of the evidence. But the shot killed Aiyana. DragonEye Tech: Leaders in LIDAR Speed Measurement, The family was awarded $8.25 million for the accidental death of the 7-year-old during a raid. He would have been charged with second-degree murder.". We believe today's settlement is fair because it balances the needs of Aiyana's family and our responsibility for the city's finances. A pretrial conference to schedule a new set of hearings and a near jury selection is set for 9am July 25. Copyright 2023 Police1. But supporters of the seven-year-old victim, Aiyana Jones, said they believe the jury was unable to reach a decision due to race. Copyright 2023 He says he accidentally fired his gun during a. His attorney, Leon Weiss, calls the verdict "contradictory and compromised," pointing out that it found Jones not guilty of having a gun and yet suggested that he was guilty of second-degree murder for giving Owens a gun. The only reason Few ran from Greenhouse that night was to catch up with Dixon so he could give her Jeremy in case he was arrested. But he was killed in his Tucson home on May 5, 2011, in a SWAT team assault gone awry. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. After two trials without result, police officer Joseph Weekley will not face another trial for fatally shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones, a sleeping seven-year-old, during a 2010 raid filmed by a reality TV show. As he was trained, Weekley testified his finger was outside the trigger guard when he entered the home carrying a large ballistics shield that he dropped almost immediately after entering the home. by a Detroit police officer, Joseph Weekley. Then, officers stormed the house and once inside, a round from Weekley's sub-machine gun struck Aiyana in the head while she slept on a couch. Ill never be the same, no.. "Then I started freaking out a little bit.". DETROIT The city of Detroit reached an $8.25 million settlement Thursday with the family of a 7-year-old girl accidentally killed by a police officer during a 2010 raid. 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. 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. The jury sent a note to Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway saying little progress had been made during the three days of deliberations over the fate of Officer Joseph Weekley, who faced charges of felony . He spotted housemate Vincent Ellis standing in a doorway just before a stun grenade exploded, temporarily blinding him. DETROIT, MI -- It's been five years since Detroit Police Officer Joseph Weekley led a SWAT team in search of a murder suspect and fatally shot 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones. He has been profiled by the A&E show "Detroit SWAT.". Owens was later convicted of murder in the death of 17-year-old Je'rean Blake, who was fatally shot outside a convenience store days before the raid. Moments ago, one of the cops who killed 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis while on duty, was sentenced to an unprecedented 40 years in prison. Detroit Police Chief James Craig told George Hunter of the Detroit News last week that Weekley was restored to active duty April 2. Police sources also have told Local 4 that DPD?s SWAT team has been put on hold until further notice. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. However, the juryand the judge did not buy it. Charges Dismissed Against Joseph Weekley, Cop Who Fatally Shot Sleeping 7-Year-Old Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley was spared a felony conviction on Tuesday over the killing of a 7-year-old girl after a jury deadlocked and a mistrial was declared, according to Detroit Free Press. DPD Spokesman John Roach said the Detroit Police Department SWAT team member is 34-year-old officer Joseph Weekley. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. "He's heartsick, because he lost his daughter and he got charged with something he didn't do," Weiss said of Jones. Detroit Corporation Counsel Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones four days before a civil trial was to begin. He said Detroit police are trained to push away anyone who tries to grab an officers gun or to move the weapon in a J shape to keep control of it. Officer Joseph Weekley still faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in the death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones. The jurors were unable to reach a verdict in the case againstOfficer Joseph Weekley who was accused of shooting Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a raid on a house for a murder suspect in Detroit. Edward Carmack Email, Phone Number, Company, Colleagues, Competitors, Peers, Interests, Skills, Seniority Last week, a neighbor testified that he tried to tell officers before they raided the home that children were inside. He said he began to realize what happened. In 2007, police raided the home of Martin Westbrook, who at that time was allegedly already in custody for an armed robbery. It's then that Weekley says Mertila Jones bore down on him with her arm striking his gun. Two days later, the decedent's father filed law suits in both the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Wayne County . Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. A surveillance unit had been monitoring the duplex in which he lived throughout the day and a no-knock raid was scheduled for just after midnight. A protester holds a sign referencing Aiyana Stanley-Jones at a rally for Trayvon Martin in Detroit on July 14, 2013. Prosecutors claim Aiyana's father, Charles Jones, gave Owens the gun he used to kill Je'Rean. Download the Yahoo News app. Jones maintains his innocence. The prosecution will file an emergency appeal with the Court of Appeals, according to the Detroit News. The pair later exchanged the marriage vows and tied the knot on June 22, 2019, in Denver, Florida. But prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter because they believe he handled his submachine gun recklessly, causing the girls death. Stafford was facing a maximum sentence of 60 years for his role in the murder of Jeremy Mardis whenstate District Judge William Bennett sentenced him. Killing of Aiyana Jones. 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. Look for a box or option labeled Home Page (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) or On Startup (Chrome). Last week, she was escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony. The little girl, 7 years old, died instantly. # 22-13, Pg. He was swinging his weapon to point toward the couch, Weekley testified, when Aiyana's grandmother, Mertilla Jones -- who had been sleeping on the couch with the girl -- smacked his weapon, an MP5 submachine gun, with her hand, causing him to pull the trigger. 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. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway declared a mistrial in the case for the second time after the first trial ended in a hung jury in June 2013. Hathaway then granted the prosecution's request for a stay on her decision and adjourned court until Monday. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File) Another question asked whether jurors had seen reports of "the so-called military equipment by police departments here and elsewhere that might influence your decision in this case," drawing a parallel between the law enforcement methods used in Detroit and those employed by Ferguson police officers during the protests that followed Brown's death. According to the Advocate,Megan Dixon, Fews fiance at the time, said Few had a previous run-in with Greenhouse. Fishman attempted to discredit her while requesting dismissal of the manslaughter charge. Brown's death, and the extreme tactics of police amid ensuing local protests, have sparked national conversations about police brutality and institutional racism in police forces across the country. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. Photo by Paul Warner/Getty Images. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Unfortunately for the family of little Aiyana, justice failed them. Owens pleaded guilty in April 2011 to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 28 years in prison for Blake's slaying. "I pulled the trigger of that gun, unintentionally, and I didn't even know it at the time," Weekley said in cout. Allison Howard, producer of "The First 48," was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for showing the tape from that night to a third party and hindering the police investigation. Rep. John Conyers has also asked the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the girl's shooting death. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. The trial featured a multicultural jury made up of eight women and four men, four of whom were African Americans. 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