The attorney representing the family of Antwun "Ronnie" Shumpert says federal authorities will look into his death. This comes after the decision by a Lee County grand jury not to indict Tyler Cook, the Tupelo Police officer who pulled the trigger. MPB's Mark Rigsby reports.
"All I can see when I close my eyes is that Tyler Cook gets a chance to be back with his loved ones, while my husband is in the grave."
That's Ronnie Shumpert's widow Peggy on WTVA after the grand jury announcement. The officer, Tyler Cook, is white. Shumpert was black.
Back in June, Shumpert got out of his car and ran after a traffic stop. A second officer, Cook, pursued him with his K-9. The city says Shumpert attacked Cook first. But the family accuses Cook of unleashing the dog on Shumpert before he was shot four times. Attorney Carlos Moore represents the Shumpert family.
"It was clearly excessive. It clearly shows this Tyler Cook became the judge, jury, and executioner on June 18th, and it's unacceptable. The family does not buy the hokey doke, and we intend to get justice," says Moore.
The City of Tupelo says it will defend the 35 million dollar civil suit the family filed against the city in federal court. A spokesperson for the city says officials were unavailable for comment.
