Jaylen Lewis should still be alive.

In September 2022, 25-year-old Jaylen was shot and killed by Mississippi Capitol Police officers during a traffic stop.

According to reports and a newly filed lawsuit by his mother, Arkela Lewis, Jaylen was unarmed and posed no threat when officers opened fire. He did not brandish a weapon, threaten anyone, or make any gestures that could reasonably justify deadly force.

Two of the officers involved — Stephen Frederick and Michael Rhinewalt — have been indicted for manslaughter and aggravated assault in separate cases, but that’s only one step toward justice.

Jaylen’s mother is now suing the officers, the Mississippi Capitol Police, and the Department of Public Safety for wrongful death and civil rights violations. She is demanding accountability — not just for her son, but to prevent this from happening to anyone else.

No family should have to endure this pain. No mother should have to bury her child because of an encounter with police that turned deadly without cause. And no police department should operate without oversight, accountability, or clear policies to prevent reckless violence.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has declined to comment, and the Capitol Police — a relatively new and heavily armed force with wide jurisdiction in Jackson — continues to face serious questions about the use of excessive force, especially against Black residents.

We demand:

• Full transparency in the investigation into Jaylen Lewis’s death.
• A commitment from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to implement new, enforceable policies to prevent future misuse of force.
• Support for the Lewis family’s calls for systemic reform.
   

Jaylen’s life mattered. His family deserves answers. His community deserves change.

Sign this petition to demand justice for Jaylen Lewis and help end police violence in Mississippi.