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. As the Associated Press reports,Ruth Wisher, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Jeff Landry's office, said Stafford was sentenced to 40 years for manslaughter and 15 years for attempted manslaughter. Select the option or tab named Internet Options (Internet Explorer), Options (Firefox), Preferences (Safari) or Settings (Chrome). The night of the raid, a camera crew from A&E's "The First 48," a reality show that follows police officers during the first two days of murder investigations, was shadowing Detroit's Special Response Team. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. Officer Joseph Weekley had been charged in the death of Aiyana Stanley Jones. Weekley's fingerprints and DNA were also not found on the gun. Police neglected to account for or flatly disregarded the safety of any potential children that might be present. Judge Dismisses Manslaughter Charge For Cop Who Shot 7-Year-Old To Death. Before the night of Aiyana's death, the News reports, Weekley had made multiple appearances on "The First 48.". Police said Weekley came into contact with Aiyana's grandmother, Mertilla Jones, when they busted through the door in the early hours of Sunday morning and his weapon accidentally fired. 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. The afternoon of May 14, Je'Rean had just bought an orange juice at a liquor store when he had a confrontation with a man named Chauncey Owens, 38. Find the perfect carolina edgecombe stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. She denies that she interfered in any way. 18:48 GMT 19 Jun 2013 Judge Hathaway declared a hung jury after less than three days of deliberations. The raid was recorded for a police reality TV show, The First 48, but there was no footage from inside the house. The officers entered Stanley-Joness home searching for a murder suspect who was later found in the adjacent unit, throwing a flashbang grenade into the room where the girl was sleeping with her grandmother, then shooting her in the head seconds later. 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. Weekley's colleagues gave him the nickname "The Brain," according to The Detroit News, because he was always thinking. They've criticized the nighttime raid and the possible use of excessive force, particularly the use of a flash-bang grenade. Belinda Robinson for MailOnline A 17-question survey given to prospective jurors on Monday included four questions related to the Ferguson shooting, according to The Detroit News. 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 death of Aiyana, who was black, has since been a rallying point for Detroit activists, who say the girl has not received justice. 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. Jurors later told the judge they couldnt reach a verdict. Download the Yahoo News app. 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. The trial featured a multicultural jury made up of eight women and four men, four of whom were African Americans. 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. Copyright 2003 by ClickOnDetroit.com. Sgt. 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. He says he accidentally fired his gun during a. It was about 9:30 AM. By Officer Joseph Weekley still faces a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm in the death of Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Weekley has been listed in various paid, off-duty statuses since the shooting early May 16, 2010. 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. Coward Cop breaks into the wrong home, blames grandmother for having his finger on the trigger and shooting their 7 year old child in the head Weekley testified the grandmother struck his weapon and caused him. Je'Rean called his mom to come pick him up, but before she arrived, Owens returned and shot the teen. The law is a gray area at best. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. By Jones had previously said the shot came from outside the house. The pair later exchanged the marriage vows and tied the knot on June 22, 2019, in Denver, Florida. Lexipol. Enter https://www.police1.com/ and click OK. On May 16, 2010, plaintiff's decedent Aiyana Stanley-Jones, 7, was inside her Detroit home when she was shot in the head. Officer Joseph Weekley will return to court Nov. 21, and Wayne County prosecutors now have six weeks to see whether they will seek to have Weekley tried for a third time. 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. On the third day of deliberations, loud voices could be heard coming from the jury room. But prosecutors charged him with involuntary manslaughter because they believe he handled his submachine gun recklessly, causing the girls death. When Weekley returned to the family room, he watched Jones straddling her dying granddaughter, speechless and seemingly "in shock." 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. Charges Dismissed Against Joseph Weekley, Cop Who Fatally Shot Sleeping 7-Year-Old. Officer Weekley faced his first trial in June 2013. Dominika Stanley, left, the mother of Aiyana Jones, seven, sits next to Aiyanas father Charles Jones in Southfield, Michigan in 2010. Photo by Thomas Alex Graves. He spotted housemate Vincent Ellis standing in a doorway just before a stun grenade exploded, temporarily blinding him. According to the Greenhouse and Stafford, the officers decided to conduct a traffic stop because Few had an outstanding warrant. Some video shot from the sidewalk was part of the evidence. 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 says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. 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. 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. 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. (Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press via AP, File) Weekley shot Stanley-Jones in 2010 during a botched police raid in search of a murder suspect. Weekley says he accidentally fired his gun during a struggle with Aiyana's grandmother. The Wayne County prosecutor's office said in a statement that on Friday Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Gray Hathaway dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge, granting a motion submitted by Weekley's attorney, Steve Fishman. 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 . The story of Aiyana Stanley-Jones' death really starts with Je'Rean Blake, a 17-year-old who was killed less than two days earlier. According to Weekley, a fellow officer threw a flash-bang grenade through the window, temporarily blinding him. There were no threats. DETROIT The SWAT team member whose gun, authorities say, killed 7-year-old Aiyana Jones Sunday during a raid at her home has been identified, and details about his police record have been released. Though many details about the events surrounding Aiyana's death were revealed in the 2013 trial, a number of questions remain unanswered. They're looking to protect," said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing Wednesday. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. He told The Huffington Post that he questioned the motives of officials who "zealously" went after the father of a girl shot by a cop, describing the prosecution's case as extremely thin. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The jurors, asked that their names not be made public as they explained what happened over four days of deliberations. A fellow officer is said to have thrown a flash-bang grenade, and Weekley fired his gun shortly after, killing the 7-year-old girl, who was sleeping on the couch. 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. A stun grenade was thrown through a window to confuse anyone inside. City attorney Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones on Thursday, April 4, 2019 four days before a civil trial was to begin. 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. He insists he accidentally fired his gun during a. He said he was oblivious to the fact that the bullet was fired from his gun and suspected it was fired by Ellis' gun, whom he pursued into an adjacent bedroom. 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 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. Weekley was first tried in Stanley-Jones' death last year; a hung jury caused a mistrial. After two. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Officer Joseph Weekley's first trial ended in a hung jury, and a judge eventually dismissed the charges against him after a second trial in 2014. The girl's father, Charles Jones, was convicted of second-degree murder for providing the gun used to kill Blake. Fishman attempted to discredit her while requesting dismissal of the manslaughter charge. "The whole reason there was even a chase was for his well-being," he said. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). Weekley is being retried after a jury failed to reach a verdict last year in . Officer Joseph Weekley was first through the door and after a flash-bang grenade went off, he fired his gun, killing Aiyana. In 2013, at Weekley's first trial, his lawyer pointed to Jones' inconsistent accounts of the shooting and otherwise attacked her credibility, according to MLive. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, Howard received a sentence of two years' probation. Mertilla Jones testified that Owens lived in the upper unit with her daughter, LaKrystal Sanders. The prosecution and defense have offered contradictory depictions of the events leading up to Stanley-Jones' death. 0:22 After two hung juries, the Detroit police officer charged in the death of 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones will not be tried again. 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. He has been a member of the SWAT team for six years, and on the Detroit police force for 14 years. As the Free Thought Project has previously reported, this entire scenario could've been over a relationship. Spokeswoman Maria Miller said the prosecutors office still believes it has a strong case, which is why it decided to put Weekley on trial again. It was a little after midnight when the Detroit Police Special Response Team, a unit similar to a SWAT team, descended on the Stanely-Jones residence in search of murder suspect Chauncey Owens, who lived upstairs. Who Is DPD Officer Joseph Weekley? Nathan Weekley is the brother of Joseph Weekley, a former SWAT officer for the Detroit police force, who was reassigned after fatally shooting 7-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones during a May. Meet Killer CopOfficer Joseph Weekly Detroit Michigan Police Department, Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley faces felony conviction. "Aiyana's death was a tragic loss for her family and has been a heavy burden on our community. "I stuck my hands out the window. He said the settlement "won't provide full justice. Weekley had been facing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge. Sleeping 7-year-old girl shot in head during no-knock police raid on wrong home Wayne County Judge Cynthia Hathaway said Weekley's trial will start Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 as planned. The hunt for a murder suspect was being recorded by a crew from 'The First 48,' a police show on A&E Networks. The family's attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, said the settlement should allow the family, the city and Weekley to move on from the tragedy. Hathaway then granted the prosecution's request for a stay on her decision and adjourned court until Monday. Police found Owens in the upstairs flat and he was arrested. It's the most comprehensive and trusted online destination for law enforcement agencies and police departments worldwide. Then I heard verbal commands after they were through firing," Few said. Available for both RF and RM licensing. As a medical device rep, it's common knowledge that we have a lot of "window time". Jones insists she never touched Weekley or his gun, and she testified that he put his gun to her granddaughter's head and pulled the trigger, MLive reports. 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. When Weekley stepped inside, he fired a single shot that went through Stanley-Jones' head. Before Weekley's trial, potential jurors were asked questions related to the Ferguson shooting and if they had seen reports that might influence their decision in the case. During a raid targeting the apartment on the floor above Stanley-Jones, Officer Joseph Weekley of a SWAT-like team, fired a hand grenade into Stanley-Jones' unit, burning her blanket. Weekley was a member of Detroits Special Response Team, which was sent to an east side neighbourhood to capture a suspect in the killing of a teenager outside a convenience store. Armed with MP5 submachine guns, adrenaline, and an unhealthy fear for officer safety, the raiders shuffled past the toys that littered the front yard and ignored the two distinct street address signs hanging on either side of the shared porch of the multi-unit building; 4056 was on the left, 4054 was on the right. Detroit police officer who killed sleeping seven-year-old no longer facing charges. Meanwhile, Weekley released a statement shortly before the mistrial was declared. Game credits for World of WarCraft: Battle for Azeroth (Windows) The Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting. They found Owens upstairs and arrested him. They came to kill, and they killed a 7-year-old.'. 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. (John T. Greilick/Detroit News via AP, File), 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. City attorney Lawrence Garcia announced the settlement with the family of Aiyana Stanley-Jones on Thursday, April 4, 2019 four days before a civil trial was to begin. # 22-13, Pg. Prosecutors say that Owens then left the store. Last week, she was escorted from the courtroom after an emotional outburst directed at Weekley during her testimony. The jury foreman, a pastor said:This has not been an easy case.. It really came down to defining negligence, the foreman said. Events surrounding Aiyana 's death was a tragic loss for her family and has a... The Brain, '' Few said for his well-being, '' Few.. 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