In 2014, a young man's life was cut short in Jackson, Mississippi, sparking a years-long struggle for his family that moved from the scene of his death to the state's legal and victim support systems. Zachary Robinson, a 22-year-old male, was shot and killed outside his home in an incident that the Jackson Police Department would later deem a case of self-defense.
This determination would have lasting repercussions for his mother, Lucinda Wade-Robinson, in her quest for justice and assistance.
The fatal encounter unfolded when a group of seven men, reportedly armed, arrived at the Robinson residence. According to Wade-Robinson, one of the men first came to their door and threatened her. In response, her son, Zachary, who had arrived home with a concealed weapon, confronted the men and demanded they leave the property. It was in the ensuing moments that Zachary Robinson was shot. As the seven men fled the scene, a friend of Robinson's, Lamont Ford, reportedly returned fire.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the official investigation concluded that Zachary Robinson's death was a result of self-defense, and consequently, no charges were pursued against the individual who fired the fatal shot, nor against the other six men who were present. Lamont Ford, however, faced legal consequences. He was initially charged with murder in connection with Robinson's death, a charge that was later downgraded to shooting into a dwelling. Ford's shots had reportedly missed their intended targets and struck a nearby house and a delivery driver's vehicle. After a trial, a jury found Lamont Ford not guilty.
The legal outcomes did little to assuage the grief and financial strain on Zachary's mother. Lucinda Wade-Robinson sought assistance from the state's Crime Victim Compensation Fund to help cover her son's funeral expenses. Her claim, however, was denied based on the grounds of 'contributory misconduct.' The state argued that Zachary's actions, including displaying his weapon and confronting the men instead of calling the police, contributed to his own death. Despite an appeal, the denial was upheld in 2016. In a separate legal pursuit, the family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Jackson, which was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount in December 2017.
