Chavis Carter, a 21-year-old, was shot in the head during an arrest made on Saturday night in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Officers say Carter was in the possession of marijuana, and also found that he had a warrant from Mississippi.
Police reported that he was searched twice, handcuffed behind his back and double-locked. Minutes later, police say they heard a “thumping noise”, and they turned around and found Carter shot in the head. Sargent Waterworth thinks the 21-year-old pulled out a gun and shot himself in the right temple after he was already handcuffed and in the car.
His mother, Teresa Carter, disagrees. She says, “I think they killed him, he told his girlfriend he was going to call her from jail. He was shot in the right temple and he is left-handed…He wasn’t suicidal at all…Something doesn’t add up.”
The two officers who were present when Carter was found shot were placed on administrative leave.
UPDATE: 2/11/2015 1:30 PM
Benjamin Crump has taken over this case as the family’s attorney.
According to WMC ACTION NEWS, “Crump said the Justice Department will look into how the Jonesboro Police Department is trained in patting down suspects. Carter was searched, but officers never found a weapon. It is an investigation Carter’s mother welcomes.”
