In a disturbing incident, a woman who sustained a gunshot wound to the head during a police pursuit in Jackson, Mississippi, has filed a federal lawsuit against the state-run department overseeing Capitol Police. Sherita Harris, a passenger in a car fleeing from a traffic stop, alleges excessive force in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the U.S. Southern District of Mississippi.
The incident unfolded in August 2022 when two Capitol Police officers stopped a vehicle driven by Harris’ friend for running a red light. According to the lawsuit, an officer began firing into the car after the initial traffic stop, resulting in Harris being shot in the head.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety, responsible for overseeing Capitol Police, has not provided immediate comment in response to the lawsuit. While the officers involved claim the car fled after they exited their patrol vehicle and heard gunshots during the chase, police have not confirmed whether Harris was shot by an officer.
During the pursuit, the driver exited the vehicle and attempted to escape on foot. Officers shot him after reportedly seeing a black object in his hands, later revealed to be a cell phone. Despite claims of finding a weapon, the officers failed to produce one at the scene.
After the driver’s arrest, officers discovered Harris slumped over in the passenger seat, requiring surgery to remove bullet fragments from her head. The lawsuit details ongoing challenges to Harris’s speech, gait, and cognitive abilities as a result of the incident.
While the driver faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, Harris has not been charged with any crime. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the case for potential charges against the officers, who have been cleared to return to work during the investigation.
Carlos Moore, Harris’ attorney, is advocating for federal prosecutors to investigate the case. The lawsuit seeks $3 million in damages for the traumatic incident.
