A Mississippi grand jury has indicted two former police officers on murder charges and another ex-officer on a manslaughter charge in the death of a black man seen on video being pinned down and repeatedly shocked with stun guns during a New Year’s Eve arrest.
Officials in the state capital of Jackson released body camera footage Wednesday that showed then-officers Avery Willis, Kenya McCarty and James Land struggling to handcuff Keith Murriel as he was apparently stunned numerous times over 10 minutes.
The officers had tackled Murriel while arresting him for allegedly trespassing at a hotel shortly before midnight Dec. 31, 2022, authorities said.
McCarty and Willis have been charged with second-degree murder and Land with manslaughter, court records showed.
All three were placed on administrative leave after the incident.
McCarty was fired in February, and Willis and Land in April.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said at Wednesday’s news conference that the city was releasing body camera footage because a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation probe of the death had been completed.
The officers — all ex-members of the Jackson Police Department — were indicted on May 12.