In Summary
The indictment is in response to the shooting of Robinson, who suffered from schizophrenia and was shot by officers 59 times on Aug. 5 2016 in Atlanta.WARNING – This story contains graphic details. Resources for those triggered by this content are available here.
UPDATE: October 26 at 5:05 p.m.
A grand jury has indicted two police officers in the 2016 death of Jamarion Robinson, who suffered from schizophrenia. Eric Heinze and Kristopher Hutchens were indicted on felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary, false statements, and violation of oath by a public officer, according to FOX 5 Atlanta.
On Monday, a grand jury in Fulton County began hearing the case of Jamarion Robinson, who was killed after being shot 59 times by law enforcement in Atlanta.
The incident took place in August 2016, when Robinson was at his girlfriend’s apartment. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, officers from various police departments and U.S. Marshals showed up with a warrant to arrest the Tuskegee University student.
Police said Robinson allegedly shot at an Atlanta police officer days earlier. A bystander caught the incident on camera and it shows rapid gunfire as officers shot into the apartment, killing Robinson and leaving his body with 76 gunshot wounds.
Robinson’s mother Monteria Robinson said her son suffered from schizophrenia and that officers involved were not trained to execute search warrants for people suffering from conditions such as his. She also said none of the officers involved were wearing body cameras. “My son didn’t kill, rape, or brutally beat anyone, but my son was heinously executed here in the city of Atlanta,” she said.
The jury will hear details about the shooting and determine if anyone will face charges. According to Monteria Robinson, the district attorney’s office is expected to finish presenting its case on Tuesday before the grand jury makes a decision, 11 Alive reported.
For her, it’s about getting justice for her son. “His life mattered. My son was a human, you know,” she said. “So, I hope that the grand jury sees that Jamarion Robinson was a human being. What happened to him, they wouldn’t even do that to a dog.”
She also hopes the people involved will be indicted. “If an indictment isn’t returned, uh that is kind of a tough one,” she said. “Of course, I would be saddened, I would be taken back because, to me, the evidence, the facts, it is all there. So how can anyone turn a blind eye?”
If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.