Ajani Dre Mitchell, 21

Columbia, South Carolina
May 25, 2013

Agencies: Columbia Police Department - South Carolina

Cause of death: Shooting


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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

The six-member jury is looking into the officer-involved fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ajani Mitchell. Columbia Police say they confronted Mitchell after reports that he had a gun and was acting strangely.

Police say they saw Mitchell with a gun and pursued him. The CPD says they believe the circumstances support a clean shooting.

Richland County Coroner Gary Watts wanted a second look at the case.

"Because of the circumstances, numerous phone calls that I have received from different community members, questions that have been sort of circulating and rumors that have been circulating about what happened ... [I] just felt like it was better that we go ahead and do something in a formal setting and allow all of the information, all of the facts to come out," Watts said in a previous statement.

In this case, the jury has heard testimony from officers who say they had to use deadly force to eliminate the threat posed by Mitchell, who they knew had guns and had threatened to shoot them.

When three officers confronted Mitchell near his home, there was a brief foot chase and then they say, Mitchell turned as he was jumping a fence and pointed a .40 caliber weapon at them.

Officer Matthew Fields and Officer Adam Anderson, who both testified at the inquest, unholstered their weapons and opened fire.

Mitchell was hit about 11 times. The gun he was carrying was not fired, but the magazine in it contained seven rounds.

Legal Action

September 2013 Coroners inquest to decide officer role

2013 Officers cleared