A Mississippi Teen's Family Says He Was Chased and Fatally Hit By a Police Cruiser

A Mississippi family is reeling from the loss of their 17-year-old son, Kadarius Smith — who they say was chased by a police cruiser and fatally hit on his way home. Now, the family is demanding answers from the local police department.

According to a statement from civil rights attorney, Ben Crump, who is representing the family — in the early morning of March 21, a witness saw Smith walking home with his friends when a police cruiser began to chase him. His mother said that Leland Police ran him over from behind leaving police cruiser tire marks on his back.

“The circumstances surrounding Kadarius’ death are truly heartbreaking for his mother and loved ones. This tragedy should have never happened and the officers involved must be held accountable,” said Crump in a statement. “It is unconscionable that an officer would fatally run over a teenager who was running away from them.”

Now, the family is demanding that the Leland Police Department release the unedited body camera footage from the interaction and fire the officer who was driving the police cruiser.

“We demand that the officer who was driving the cruiser be immediately terminated and that the unedited video footage is released to the family,” wrote Crump. “Kadarius’ family deserves accountability and answers as to how and why he was killed by an officer in such an inhumane way.”

An attorney for the police department told People magazine that the officer who allegedly hit and killed Smith has not been fired. However, he said the officer is on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.

The name of the officer has not been released, and his race is unknown.