Spencer Mims III, a 55-year-old man from Charlotte, NC, passed away on January 6, 2013. He was born on April 20, 1957, and was the son of Spencer R. Mims Jr. and the late Mattie B. Stancill Mims. Spencer was a graduate of Olympic High School and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where he majored in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures. He was an employee of Virtual Image Technology since 1987 and a life-long member of Mouzon United Methodist Church.
Spencer was known for his interests in writing, music, motion pictures, and his love for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The circumstances surrounding Spencer Mims III's death involved a police shooting. On the night of his death, Spencer Mims III was fatally shot by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer. The incident led to a lawsuit filed by his family, who sought justice for his death. According to the lawsuit, Spencer Mims III, who was mentally ill, was shot by the police after he allegedly told them, "Go ahead and shoot me". The family was represented by lead attorney Luke Largess and attorney Cheyenne Chambers.
During the legal proceedings, an expert on police training and lethal force testified that the officers involved in the shooting acted reasonably. Despite this testimony, a Mecklenburg County jury awarded a $100,000 judgment to the family of Spencer Mims III. The case highlighted the complexities and challenges of dealing with mental illness and the use of lethal force by law enforcement officers. The family of Spencer Mims III continues to remember him as a kind and talented individual who was deeply loved by his family and friends.
