Randall Adjessom, a 16-year-old from Mobile, Alabama, was fatally shot by SWAT officers during a predawn, no-knock raid on November 13, 2023. His mother, Akouvi Adjessom, has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and officers involved, alleging he was “killed in cold blood.”
Randall was asleep in his home when officers broke down the door just after 5:30 a.m. The raid targeted Randall’s older brother for marijuana-related offenses, though he wasn’t present and didn’t live there. Randall, who was not a suspect, emerged from his room with a firearm but retreated with his hands up after recognizing the officers, according to the lawsuit, which cites sealed body-camera footage.
Despite surrendering, Randall was shot four times within 11 seconds of officers entering the home. The lawsuit claims police delayed medical care, as Randall wasn’t transported to the hospital until nearly 50 minutes later, despite the facility being only eight minutes away.
“They’re supposed to be peace officers, aren’t they?” Akouvi Adjessom questioned in a statement, adding, “How many more young Black boys like Randall have to be buried following police brutality?”
The complaint highlights how Randall’s family members were detained in the living room for hours before being told he had been shot. The attorneys representing Akouvi called the incident an “unquestionably foreseeable and preventable tragedy.”
An investigation into the Mobile Police Department, prompted by public outcry over Randall’s death and three other high-profile killings, found the officer acted within the city’s use-of-force policy, citing Randall’s possession of a gun. However, the report criticized the raid’s timing, stating it failed to prioritize “the sanctity of life.”
The investigation also noted misconduct in the department, including unconstitutional detentions, excessive force, and illegal searches. It did not recommend federal oversight, asserting local willingness to address issues.
“No-knock” warrants like the one used in Randall’s case have faced national scrutiny, particularly after Breonna Taylor’s death in 2020. Although federal policy now restricts their use, an ordinance to ban them in Mobile failed to pass earlier this year.
Link: APNews
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