22-year-old Jamee Johnson died Saturday Dec. 14 after he was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting after a traffic stop.
What We Know:
- According to a report from News4Jax, Johnson was stopped at 21st and Buckman Street in the Talleyrand section of Jacksonville, Florida. During the stop, authorities noted that they became aware of a firearm in the car.
- The Sheriff’s office says that officers, Josue Garriga and K. Graham asked Johnson to exit the vehicle during the stop in which he complied. Authorities are also saying that once Johnson walked to the back of the patrol car, he pushed Garriga and the two men struggled before Johnson got back in his car and proceeded to drive away.
- The Sheriff’s office reported that Johnson was reaching for his gun and amid the tussle, Johnson allegedly hit the gas while Garriga was partially hanging out of the car. Garriga fired four shots, killing Johnson.
- The family of the deceased have called on the help of civil rights attorneys Lee Merritt and Ben Crump to assist them in receiving justice on the behalf of the 22-year-old.
I have arrived to Jacksonville, FL to investigate the shooting of Jamee Johnson. The family just wants answers. Video evidence should be made available for their viewing. In the meantime we are canvassing for witnesses and coordinating an independent autopsy. https://t.co/e2b8Tr93lc
— S. Lee Merritt, Esq. (@MeritLaw) December 18, 2019
- Crump is demanding that the body camera footage be released. “Transparency is important,” he said. “If you believe you were justified in this killing of this young man, who many people say had so much promise and had good character and was a good kid. Well release the video so we can see.”
- The State Attorney’s Office told the family that the footage cannot be released because it has been submitted as evidence.
- Johnson was driving his mother’s car at the time of the incident. He was indeed licensed to carry and had no prior convictions.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this unfortunate time.
