Investigators have obtained and released dashcam footage of the August 2020 shooting of 60-year-old Black man Julian Lewis by Georgia State Trooper Jake Thompson. The footage, along with other investigative details, has raised questions about how the trooper was able to avoid prosecution for the shooting. Use-of-force experts who have reviewed the footage have deemed the shooting as unjustified. Thompson claimed he feared for his life, but documents show that his version of events did not match the evidence and he shot just 1.6 seconds after his cruiser stopped. The footage was obtained by the authors of the book "Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap" and has been verified by the Associated Press.
Georgia State Trooper Jake Thompson Avoids Prosecution for Fatal Shooting of Black Man Julian Lewis
On August 7, 2020, Georgia State Trooper Jake Thompson fatally shot 60-year-old Black man Julian Lewis during a traffic stop in Hancock County, Georgia. Now, nearly three years later, dashcam footage of the incident has been released, raising questions about why Thompson was not prosecuted.
Dashcam Footage Released
Investigators recently obtained and released dashcam footage of the shooting. The footage shows Thompson pulling over Lewis's vehicle on I-20. After a brief conversation, Thompson tells Lewis to step out of the car. Lewis complies, but as he turns to walk towards the patrol car, Thompson fatally shoots him.
Experts Find Shooting Unjustified
Use-of-force experts who have reviewed the footage have deemed the shooting as unjustified. They note that Lewis was unarmed and posed no threat to Thompson.
Thompson's Version of Events
Thompson claimed that he feared for his life when Lewis turned towards him. However, the dashcam footage contradicts his version of events. According to documents, Thompson fired his weapon just 1.6 seconds after his cruiser stopped.
Lack of Prosecution
Despite the evidence suggesting that the shooting was unjustified, Thompson was not charged with any crime. The Hancock County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case, citing Thompson's "lack of intent" to harm Lewis.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Why was Julian Lewis shot? Lewis was fatally shot during a traffic stop, allegedly because he turned towards Trooper Thompson's vehicle.
2. Was the shooting justified? Use-of-force experts have deemed the shooting as unjustified, as Lewis posed no threat to Thompson.
3. Why wasn't Trooper Thompson charged? The Hancock County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the case, citing Thompson's "lack of intent" to harm Lewis.
4. What happened to Trooper Thompson after the shooting? Thompson remained on active duty and was later promoted to Lieutenant.
5. Is the case still open? The case is technically still open, but it is unlikely that Thompson will ever be charged with a crime.
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