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Yet another lawsuit in connection to an alleged police brutality case has been filed on behalf of a Black man fatally shot by a Prince George’s County officer last month.
On Feb 1. PG County Officer Braxton Shelton responded to a 911 call reporting a break-in at a Windham Creek apartment, the department said. According to the recording of the call, the person reported someone entering into his home, stealing his belongings and taking them outside. The caller did not report that they were at the home at the time of the incident.
“They say he’s taking [expletive] out of my house. I’m about to shoot right there, right now. I’m literally right here at the firehouse. My face was busted open, so I’m getting my face taken care of. I’m about to shoot right there, right now,” the caller said in the recording.
By the time Officer Shelton arrived, the body camera footage shows him getting out of his car, kicking open the door to an apartment that was already opened and shooting 31-year-old Melvin Jay in the head, who was standing in the kitchen. In the footage, Shelton is not heard announcing himself but ordering Jay to put his hands up. The shooting occurred within 30 seconds of the officer arriving at the scene. Jay fell to the ground and appeared unresponsive.
In the video, it’s unclear if Jay was holding a gun at the time of the shooting but police claimed they recovered two firearms. The officer reported shots fired on the dispatch and then ordered another man who identified as Jay’s brother to come out from a room and get on the ground. The man said the home belonged to his cousin.
It wasn’t until additional officers responded three minutes later that Jay was administered aid. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Source: Another Wild Case of Police Fatally Shooting a Black Man for Having His Own Apartment
