By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO – Local officials are asking the community to remain calm and patient during the investigation into a police officer-involved fatal shooting Saturday.
Inflammatory and false statements on social media following the second officer-involved fatal shooting in a week forced the city of Tupelo and the NAACP to reach out to the community Monday afternoon.
“Folks are out there saying stuff on Facebook that’s just wrong. We want the facts – not fiction,” said NAACP Lee County chapter president Rev. Chris Traylor. “We are asking that people stay off social media and making comments about this case.
“We have a serious tragedy here, but let the police department and the (Mississippi Bureau of Investigation) do their job and do the right thing. Then, if we feel justice was not served, we will fight it.”
Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton said details of the incident would not be released until the MBI concludes its investigation and the case is presented to the grand jury. The next scheduled grand jury is in September.
“We fully stand behind our police department and are asking for public support and patience as the investigation continues,” said Shelton. “Because this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment on any specifics.
“We feel the traffic stop was justified. We believe the use of force was justified.”
Around 10 p.m. Saturday, police pulled over Antwun Shumpert, 37, for a routine traffic stop in Lee Acres. Shumpert jumped out of the car and ran. His passenger remained in the car. A police dog and his handler found Shumpert hiding under a house in the 900 block of Harrison Street.
According to a city press release, Shumpert attacked the dog and the officer when he emerged from hiding. During the struggle, he was shot. Shelton refused to comment on the number of shots fired and how many times Shumpert was struck. He was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center where he died around 1:20 the next morning.
Shumpert’s passenger was detained briefly and released Saturday night.
The officer, who has not been identified, was treated for minor injuries and released. He has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The police dog was treated by a veterinarian and is expected to be back at work after several weeks of recuperation.
Assistant District Attorney Josh Wise said that once the MBI completes its investigation, the findings and evidence will be presented to the Lee County Grand Jury. That panel of around 20 citizens will decide whether to charge the officer.
Shumpert’s family is doing as well as could be expected, according to the family pastor.
“They appreciate all the prayers and calls, but they are deeply hurt and deeply saddened,” said Rev. Frank Orr, of the Jerusalem MB Church of Nettleton. “We ask for calm in the community. Don’t bombard the family with questions they cannot answer.”
william.moore@journalinc.com
