Mississippi Capitol Police Face Manslaughter Charges Following Deadly Encounter with Unarmed Black Man During Traffic Stop

A grand jury has formally charged two Mississippi Capitol Police officers with the manslaughter of Jaylen Lewis, a Black driver fatally shot during a 2022 traffic stop. Officers Steven Randolph Frederick Jr. and Michael Rhinewalt purportedly acted outside the bounds of necessary self-defense, as highlighted in the indictment. The incident has sparked heightened scrutiny of Capitol Police, especially following contentious jurisdiction expansions and prior excessive force claims. In the wake of the indictment, Lewis's mother voiced relief, hoping for transparency regarding her son’s heartbreaking confrontation with law enforcement.