A grand jury has cleared a Mississippi Gulf Coast deputy of criminal wrongdoing in an officer-involved shooting that claimed the life of a 21-year-old Georgia man.
Just three days before Christmas in 2022, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office was called regarding a burglary taking place at a Kiln home just off Highway 603. Upon arrival at the scene, a deputy identified as Michael Blackwell, encountered the subject — Isaiah Winkley.
Blackwell is reported to have opened fire and killed the subject, despite officials confirming that it was unlikely that Winkley had even shot at the officer before the Blackwell struck him.
In response to the fatal incident, the 21-year-old’s family pursued litigation against Blackwell and Sheriff Ricky Adam, looking to obtain financial compensation for Winkley’s medical expenses, funeral cost, and even potential occupational earnings he would have acquired had he not been shot.
Attorneys for the family argued that Winkley was unlawfully killed. The family further contended that the shooting victim was unarmed, not a threat to the public or law enforcement, and that he was at the residence seeking aid.
An assessment of the fatal shooting was conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Attorney General’s Office. The information gathered was presented to a Hancock County grand jury which ultimately determined that Blackwell did not break the law.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch released the following statement:
“The Office of the Attorney General completed its review into the December 10, 2022, incident involving an officer-involved shooting in Hancock County and presented it to the Hancock County grand jury last week. The grand jury reported that it found no criminal conduct on behalf of the officer involved.
As such, no further criminal action will be taken by this Office in this matter. Pursuant to Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code, review by the Office of the Attorney General and the subsequent presentation to the Hancock County grand jury followed an investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.”
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