The Texas officer under investigation for shooting and injuring a Black man he mistook for a burglary suspect has been terminated, department officials announced this week.
In a statement late Wednesday, Nov. 29, Mesquite Police Chief Charles Cato announced the firing of officer Derick Wiley after an internal investigation into the Nov. 8 shooting of Lyndo Jones, who was trying to unlock his own truck, NBC Dallas-Forth reported.
Cato said the probe revealed that Wiley had violated department policy when he shot the 31-year-old man. He stopped short of saying exactly which policy was broken, however.
That day, police responded to reports of a man breaking into a car, setting off its alarm. Officers said they were unaware the truck actually belonged to Jones, who was trying to get into his locked vehicle.
The Dallas man was shot twice after a scuffle with Wiley and other officers, according to AP. Jones was charged with evading arrest, which he denied doing. Officers later acknowledged that the truck belonged to him, and the charges were dropped.
The case has since been heard by a Dallas County grand jury, according to NBC DFW.
“On behalf of Lyndo Jones and his family we regard the indefinite suspension of Mesquite Police Department Officer Derick Wiley with guarded optimism,” Jones’ attorney, Lee Merritt, said in a statement Thursday, Nov. 30. ” … We remain hopeful that the Grand Jury will recommend the appropriate indictment in this matter.”
Cato said the Mesquite PD would not make any additional comments until the grand jury completes its review of the case. Wiley was a 10-year veteran of the department before his termination.
