A judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of a white father and son in Mississippi accused of trying to murder a Black FedEx employee.
On Thursday, Judge David Strong declared a mistrial in the case of Gregory Charles Case and his son Brandon Case. Both had been charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy, and shooting into the vehicle during the January 2022 attack. The terrifying series of events unfolded when D’Monterrio Gibson was driving for FedEx and was in his uniform. He delivered a package to a home in Brookhaven while operating a Hertz van that was rented by FedEx but had the company logo on the side of it. Afterward, Gibson noticed Gregory was trailing him in a white truck. As he continued to drive, another man, identified as Brandon, stood in the middle of the road with a gun pointed at the delivery driver. Gregory tried to block the van with his truck, and when Gibson drove around it, Brandon shot at him three times, striking the van.
The defense argued that Gregory saw the van outside his mother-in-law’s home and went to check. When Gibson didn’t stop for him, he became concerned. However, Gibson has maintained that he was targeted because he was a Black man. The primarily white jury heard both sides. However, it was revealed that Brookhaven Police Detective Vincent Fernando withheld a recorded statement of Gibson, according to WLBT 3. Due to this, Judge Strong was forced to declare a mistrial.
“The failure to turn over matters in discovery is just something that can’t be ignored. In 17 years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it happen,” Strong said in court.
District Attorney Dee Bates has determined that his office will retry the case. Until then, both father and son will remain free on bond.
