March 12th 2024.
Melvin Jay's family is seeking justice for his death after he was shot and killed in his own home on February 1st by Braxton Shelton, an officer from the Prince George County Department. According to DC News Now, the family is planning to file a civil suit in response to the tragic incident. It all started when Shelton responded to a reported break-in at Jay's apartment complex, but he was not made aware by the dispatcher that anyone was inside. Despite this, Shelton allegedly ordered Jay to put his hands up, and when the 31-year-old complied, he was fatally shot by the officer in his own kitchen.
Jay's family held a press conference on March 6th at A Clarke Law in partnership with the advocacy group Harriet's Wildest Dreams, where they demanded justice for their loved one. Leonard Lee Jr., Jay's cousin, spoke on behalf of the family, saying, "The pain we feel is immeasurable, and the questions swirling in our minds are endless. Our grief is raw, our anger is justified, and our resolve is unwavering." Their attorney, Jade Mathis, added, "We're always told, 'Think before you act and react so you won't regret your decision,' or 'make a decision that cannot be repaired.' That rule should not be an exception just because you're wearing a uniform or a badge."
According to Beatrice Peterson's Twitter thread, Andrew O. Clarke, the attorney for Jay's estate, revealed that the description given by the 911 caller did not match Jay's appearance, and therefore, Shelton's actions were not justified. Clarke stated, "The 911 caller gave a description of the person that he believed was burglarizing his home. That description did not match Mr. Jay. It was not related to Officer Braxton." This only adds to the family's demand for justice and accountability.
District 7 county Councilmember Krystal Oriadha also spoke out, stating, "We have to make sure that this incident doesn't happen in vain and someone learns from this so that a moment like this doesn't happen again. No matter the circumstances, he did not have to die." It is clear that Jay's death has left a lasting impact on his community, and they are determined to see that justice is served.
To make matters worse, the PGCD officials claimed that Jay had a gun in his pocket when he was shot, and another was found by the sink. However, as reported by Fox 5 DC, Jay's family has been relentlessly calling for justice since the release of the bodycam footage. An unnamed cousin told the outlet, "We are hurt. We are just tormented by the video, the fact that we cannot hear him, hug him, say 'I love you.' It's just devastating to all of us. We seek justice. We are going to allow this to unfold, allow the truth to come out, and seek justice for my cousin. Because he deserves it. He did not deserve what happened to him."
Attorney Andrew Clark, who is representing Jay's family in the upcoming civil suit, expressed his disbelief over the situation, saying, "For compliance to happen, and for you still to be shot, what kind of world are we living in here today? Melvin Jay did not deserve to die." He also urged people to put themselves in Jay's shoes, asking them to imagine a stranger barging into their home and giving them commands.
The tragic incident has sparked a call for change and accountability in the police force, as well as a reminder to always think before acting, especially when lives are at stake. As the family continues to seek justice for Jay, they also hope that his death will not be in vain and that steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
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