15-year-old Jaheim McMillan, who landed in the hospital after he was shot by a Gulfport police officer, has been taken off of life support. Jaheim McMillan was shot following an incident which took place on Thursday.
Several people in a car, all of whom were under the age of 18, were reportedly flashing firearms at drivers, according to a press release issued by Gulfport PD. A police officer pulled over the vehicle near the Family Dollar on the corner of 8th Avenue and Pass Road, and all but two of the passengers got out.
According to the press release, bullets were fired when the officer confronted McMillan, an armed suspect. After a foot pursuit, the second suspect was apprehended. After receiving treatment for a gunshot wound at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, McMillan was transported to Mobile, Alabama’s USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. The relevant people were all apprehended, and various weapons were found.
McMillan’s mother, Katrina Mateen, spoke with WVUE on Thursday night.
“He came out the dollar store with his hands up, and they shot him in the head,” Mateen said. “And then I’m hearing that he seen them… He was sitting in the car and he seen the police pull up with guns, so he got out the car and ran in the store- well, tried to run in the store- and they shot him in the head. The video I seen on Facebook is basically, the man is saying that my son didn’t do anything. He had his hands up, so why did y’all shoot him?”
15-year-old Jaheim McMillan, who landed in the hospital after he was shot by a Gulfport police officer, has been taken off of life support. Jaheim McMillan was shot following an incident which took place on Thursday.
Several people in a car, all of whom were under the age of 18, were reportedly flashing firearms at drivers, according to a press release issued by Gulfport PD. A police officer pulled over the vehicle near the Family Dollar on the corner of 8th Avenue and Pass Road, and all but two of the passengers got out.
According to the press release, bullets were fired when the officer confronted McMillan, an armed suspect. After a foot pursuit, the second suspect was apprehended. After receiving treatment for a gunshot wound at Gulfport Memorial Hospital, McMillan was transported to Mobile, Alabama’s USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. The relevant people were all apprehended, and various weapons were found.
McMillan’s mother, Katrina Mateen, spoke with our New Orleans sister station WVUE on Thursday night.
“He came out the dollar store with his hands up, and they shot him in the head,” Mateen said. “And then I’m hearing that he seen them… He was sitting in the car and he seen the police pull up with guns, so he got out the car and ran in the store- well, tried to run in the store- and they shot him in the head. The video I seen on Facebook is basically, the man is saying that my son didn’t do anything. He had his hands up, so why did y’all shoot him?”
The incident is still under investigation. The officer who shot Jaheim McMillan was placed on non-enforcement duties pending results of the investigation.
Jaheim McMillan Lost his uncle to law enforcement in 2018
Mateen also spoke exclusively with WLOX anchor Josh Jackson on Friday during a protest for Jaheim at the Family Dollar where the shooting took place. She explained that the family has dealt with an officer involved shooting in the past, as Jaheim’s uncle was killed in a standoff with police in 2018. Officers were cleared nearly one year later.
“They killed his uncle, Marvin McMillan, a few years back,” Mateen added. “When I got here yesterday, they handcuffed me and walked me across the street.”
Other residents expressed their concerns on the matter, claiming they suspect foul play.
“No one held up a weapon at a police officer,” said Katrina Campbell. “They are making up stories to save their behinds.”
“There is a fear of African American males,” said Rip Daniels, JZ 94.5 owner/radio personality. “‘Why do you run?’ Look at the history of those who didn’t.”
Many questions surrounding the incident could be answered by the release of body cam and dash cam videos. However, Gulfport Police Chief Adam Cooper says he isn’t sure when the footage would be made public.
“It’s up to [MBI],” Cooper said. “Usually they don’t release video while the investigation is ongoing. So the investigation is still in its early stages, and we’ll move on from here, but it won’t be released until they’re ready to release it.
Jaheim McMillan was taken off of life support just before 5 p.m. Saturday.