A Mississippi woman is suing Capitol police after she was allegedly shot in the head by officers during a police chase, WAPT reports.
On Wednesday (December 20), a $3 million lawsuit was filed against the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, the Mississippi Capitol Police Department, Officer Jeffery Walker, and Officer Michael Rhinewalt on behalf of Sherita Harris.
Harris was a passenger in a vehicle stopped at a red light in downtown Jackson on August 14, 2022, when Capitol Police conducted a traffic stop.
According to the lawsuit, Rhinewalt shot into the vehicle despite the driver complying with officer commands. After Rhinewalt opened fire, the driver attempted to drive away, the lawsuit states.
Harris suffered a bullet to the head. She was taken to the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she had surgery to have bullet fragments removed from her head.
Harris claims she suffered from severe complications with her speech, gait, and overall cognizant abilities in the wake of the shooting, according to the lawsuit. Documents state that Walker admitted to shooting at the driver of the vehicle. However, Rhinewalt is believed to have been the officer whose bullet hit Harris.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety declined to comment on the pending litigation, according to WAPT.
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