JACKSON Tenn — The family of 18-year-old Dillion McGee who was fatally shot by Madison County sheriff’s deputies is asking the community hold their judgment until a full independent investigation is complete.
Memphis civil rights attorney Jeff Rosenblum the McGee family has hired him to have a separate investigation conducted.
“They want justice, they want truth, they want fairness,” Rosenblum said at a news conference Tuesday in Jackson.
Rosenblum said Madison County Sheriff John Mehr “if he said it” made “unfair” comments to local media. Rosenblum is asking that Sheriff Mehr either retract or clarify statements if he made them as quoted to WBBJ-TV.
According to a story on its website, wbbjtv.com reported on Sept. 29 that “Mehr said as soon as the TBI finishes its investigation, veteran officers Tom Knolton and Terry Stewart will be returned to active duty.” It also says “Mehr believes the use of deadly forced was warranted.”
Rosenblum called the remarks premature and irresponsible,” Rosenblum said. “I hope he didn’t make those comments.”
Mehr told WNWS his comments quoted by WBBJ-TV were “mixed up.” Mehr said he told the reporter what would justify deadly force but said “the TBI is investigating and the evidence will be turned over to the District Attorney’s office. It will be up to them to make that decision.”
Mehr also said both officers that were involved in the shooting, Sgt. Tom Knolton and Sgt. Terry Stewart, are back on the job performing their normal duties as investigators.
Mehr said “that they needed to come back to work,” and added “It may be months before the TBI finishes their report.” Mehr said he felt it was right to bring the two officers back to work. The TBI has said that Knolton and Stewart are the two deputies involved in the shooting but has made no other comment citing the ongoing investigation.
Wednesday, Chad McGee, Dillion McGee’s father, asked that the community ask for justice and not judge his son. He said there was so much more to Dillion than people know.”There’s always two sides to a story, always, and you’ve only heard one,”
“He was a son, he was a brother, he was a father,” he said. “He loved hunting and fishing. His 1-month-old will never know his father. He’ll never take him hunting, never take him fishing.”
McGee said “We just want the truth,” he said. “We don’t want to just take the words of two officers of how something happened. We want an independent investigation. If the truth is what they say, then somehow my family will be able to move forward and we can handle it”
Chad McGee said. “Let us see all the evidence, and then let’s make a decision of what happened. Then we can move forward….We just ask that you tell the truth and that people wait for the truth.”
The family and Jeff Rosenblum ask that anyone who has information about this case to come forward and talk to them. Rosenblum said they are looking for witnesses that “we know are out there and can help this family find the truth.”
The family asks if you can help, call 901-527-9600, Attorney Jeffery Rosenblum.
