In the winter of 2018, a narcotics investigation in west Jackson, Mississippi, ended in the death of 37-year-old Lee Edward Bonner. On the evening of February 21st, two plainclothes detectives from the Jackson Police Department were conducting an investigation when they began to pursue Bonner and another individual. According to the police account, during the chase, Bonner brandished a weapon and opened fire on the officers. The detectives returned fire, striking Bonner.
He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The official narrative of a shootout was quickly contested by Lee Edward Bonner's family. They described the incident as 'an overkill' and publicly demanded justice and a thorough, independent investigation to uncover the true events of that night. Speaking before the Jackson City Council, a cousin of Bonner's articulated the family's grief and suspicion, questioning the necessity of the force used against him. The family's plea for transparency was amplified by their desire for an independent autopsy to be performed.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the two officers involved were placed on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure in such cases. The Jackson Police Department, however, did not release the names of the officers to the public, citing concerns for their safety. While it was initially announced that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations would assist in the inquiry, it was later reported that the agency was not handling the case. The lack of information and the conflicting stories surrounding the death of Lee Edward Bonner left his family and the community searching for answers.
