PETAL, MS (WDAM) - Court documents show that Aaron Jernigan, Petal Police Department officer, responded to a two-vehicle accident at Leeville Road and Highway 42 around 10 a.m. on June 2, 2017. It goes on to say when Jernigan arrived on scene, he and Marc Davis, of LaPlace, Louisiana, got into a “disagreement” that led to Davis’ death.
Davis, 34, was taken to Forrest General Hospital where he died from his injuries. Forrest County Coroner Butch Benedict told WDAM-TV in a previous interview that Davis was shot multiple times.
A complaint was filed by Yoshanta Albert, widow and mother of Marc Davis’ children, on behalf of their children and as a representative of Davis’ estate in U.S. District Court on June 1. The amended complaint was filed on Oct. 25.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation looked into the shooting and concluded that Jernigan acted appropriately, according to City of Petal mayor Hal Marx in a previous interview with WDAM-TV.
“The incident was investigated by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, an outside agency,” said Marx. “They determined our officer acted appropriately given the circumstances. We feel confident that he is not guilty of any wrongdoing.”
The City of Petal and Jernigan responded to the complaint on Nov. 5 stating that it “fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted pursuant to Fed. Rule Civ. Pro. 12(b)(6), Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009).”
The complaint says that Jernigan “acted reasonably in defense of himself and/or others” as the plaintiff’s (decedent) posed a threat to the safety of Jernigan and/or bystanders.”
WDAM-TV confirmed that Jernigan is still employed with the department. A trial date has been set for Nov. 4 in federal court before District Judge Keith Starrett.
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