[12/18/02]The next session of the Warren County Grand Jury is expected to review the death of a county man shot by a Warren County deputy sheriff.

Warren County District Attorney Gil Martin said Tuesday he anticipates getting the final report from Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol investigators after the first of the year. That report should wrap up the investigation into the Oct. 26 death of Jimmie Taylor II, he said.

“They tell me the earliest they can get it to me is the first week of January,” Martin said. “But that’s not a promise.”

Taylor, 22, died less than 24 hours after being shot once just above the left thigh. The bullet went into his abdomen and damaged organs, and he bled to death internally.

Deputy Sheriff Lionel Johnson has been on administrative leave with pay since the shooting. Sheriff Martin Pace turned the investigation over to the state police immediately after Taylor was wounded.

Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol spokesman Warren Strain declined to discuss the case.

“We’ll turn everything over to the district attorney, and it’s up to him to discuss it or not,” Strain said.

Initial reports indicate Johnson and an unidentified deputy responded to a 911 call around 10:30 p.m. to the home at 4808 Halls Ferry Road after reports of cars parked in the road.

Johnson has said the situation got out of control and that he was assaulted by Taylor and others at the birthday party for Taylor’s younger brother, but family members and other witnesses have said Taylor was handcuffed and on the ground when he was shot.

David Sessums, attorney for Johnson, said that forensic testing indicates no evidence that Taylor was in handcuffs and has “vindicated” the deputy.

Martin said he expects to present the case to the grand jury that convenes Jan. 27. The jurors will decide if any criminal charges should be brought against Johnson.

Other forensic tests indicate Johnson’s Glock 9mm pistol was 1 to 3 inches away from Taylor when he was shot.

Johnson, 27, a six-year veteran of the department and a former U.S. air marshal, has not spoken about the case, but logs show he pressed his “officer in trouble” button on his hand-held radio. That would indicate a situation out of control.

Investigators interviewed about 50 witnesses at the party.

Reports have varied widely, but indicate the officers were separated when things escalated between Johnson, Jimmie Taylor and his brother, Maurice. Taylor’s parents were also witnesses and have hired attorney Marshall Sanders who has not returned phone calls.

Maurice Taylor was treated at the hospital that night for a head injury and taken into custody briefly by Warren County deputies before being released to his mother.

Johnson was also treated at the hospital.Deputy shooting of county man expected to go to grand jury

Staff writer

[12/18/02]The next session of the Warren County Grand Jury is expected to review the death of a county man shot by a Warren County deputy sheriff.

Warren County District Attorney Gil Martin said Tuesday he anticipates getting the final report from Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol investigators after the first of the year. That report should wrap up the investigation into the Oct. 26 death of Jimmie Taylor II, he said.

“They tell me the earliest they can get it to me is the first week of January,” Martin said. “But that’s not a promise.”

Taylor, 22, died less than 24 hours after being shot once just above the left thigh. The bullet went into his abdomen and damaged organs, and he bled to death internally.

Deputy Sheriff Lionel Johnson has been on administrative leave with pay since the shooting. Sheriff Martin Pace turned the investigation over to the state police immediately after Taylor was wounded.

Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol spokesman Warren Strain declined to discuss the case.

“We’ll turn everything over to the district attorney, and it’s up to him to discuss it or not,” Strain said.

Initial reports indicate Johnson and an unidentified deputy responded to a 911 call around 10:30 p.m. to the home at 4808 Halls Ferry Road after reports of cars parked in the road.

Johnson has said the situation got out of control and that he was assaulted by Taylor and others at the birthday party for Taylor’s younger brother, but family members and other witnesses have said Taylor was handcuffed and on the ground when he was shot.

David Sessums, attorney for Johnson, said that forensic testing indicates no evidence that Taylor was in handcuffs and has “vindicated” the deputy.

Martin said he expects to present the case to the grand jury that convenes Jan. 27. The jurors will decide if any criminal charges should be brought against Johnson.

Other forensic tests indicate Johnson’s Glock 9mm pistol was 1 to 3 inches away from Taylor when he was shot.

Johnson, 27, a six-year veteran of the department and a former U.S. air marshal, has not spoken about the case, but logs show he pressed his “officer in trouble” button on his hand-held radio. That would indicate a situation out of control.

Investigators interviewed about 50 witnesses at the party.

Reports have varied widely, but indicate the officers were separated when things escalated between Johnson, Jimmie Taylor and his brother, Maurice. Taylor’s parents were also witnesses and have hired attorney Marshall Sanders who has not returned phone calls.

Maurice Taylor was treated at the hospital that night for a head injury and taken into custody briefly by Warren County deputies before being released to his mother.

Johnson was also treated at the hospital.