Family Calls for Justice After Mississippi Teen is Fatally Hit By Police Car on Walk Home

The heartbreaking death of Mississippi teen Kadarius Smith has sparked calls for justice and accountability.

According to a statement from civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Smith’s family, the 17-year-old was walking home with friends when a police cruiser from the Leland Police Department began to pursue him, ultimately striking him from behind. The young man succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock.

The incident has sparked a demand for accountability, with Crump advocating for the immediate dismissal of the officer involved, who has yet to be identified publicly. The family is also calling for the release of unedited video footage of the tragic moment to understand better how and why Kadarius’s death occurred.

“They just took his life away from him,” Kaychia Calvert, Kadarius’s mother, expressed to The Associated Press, mourning the future her son will never have.

This incident adds to a series of high-profile cases in Mississippi that have raised serious questions about police conduct. Just last month, six former law enforcement officers, part of a group known as the “Goon Squad,” were sentenced for their role in a racially-motivated attack, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding police brutality in the state. Additionally, a former police officer in Pearl, Mississippi, recently pleaded guilty in a separate abuse of power case.

As the investigation into Kadarius Smith’s death unfolds, the community and Smith’s family seek answers and justice for a young life cut tragically short. Kadarius’s death not only highlights the need for transparency and accountability in law enforcement but also reminds us of the continuing struggle against systemic issues within the justice system.