CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The family of a man who was fatally shot by a Clay County deputy has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
The family said that when the shots were fired, Morris Davis, 48, was already on the ground and unable to pose a threat to the deputies.
“Morris Davis was a human being, loved by many, and his family deserves the truth about why he died in such a brutal manner. When a man is on the ground, unable to stand, unable to advance, posing no imminent threat, and deputies still choose to use deadly force, we must ask serious questions about whether that force was justified,” Crump said in a statement. “Video shows there was distance, time, and options. We will pursue accountability and justice for Morris and his family, and we will push for the systemic change needed to ensure that preventable losses like this stop happening.”
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office said it is aware of the video circulating on social media regarding the shooting.
During the Saturday afternoon investigation, where deputies were called to a home on Pebble Stone Court to assist DCF, Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said they learned Davis had an outstanding warrant for homicide out of Mississippi.
Cook said the deputies were trying to confirm Davis’ warrant, who was eventually shot when he armed himself with two knives and became confrontational.
CCSO said the man then went out the back of the residence, into a neighbor’s yard, where he resisted deputies who were trying to take him into custody.
Officials said deputies tried to tase Davis in an attempt to disarm him, but it was ineffective.
Davis was then shot by Deputy Sheriff D. Brown. Deputies called for rescue, but Davis died at the scene after unsuccessful life-saving measures.
Brown has been placed on administrative leave.
News4JAX also spoke with Trevor Francis, who has circulated a video online that reportedly captured the shooting, which as of Monday had more than 175,000 views. The footage appeared to show the man who was killed, visibly large in stature, lying on the ground at the moment he was shot.
“He can’t walk. He has to walk with a cane. You see how heavy-set he is. If you watch the whole video, when he broke through the fence, he fell through the fence,” Francis said.
In the video, which we did not air or post online, it appears that the man was holding a knife, but part of his body is obscured from view.
CCSO said in a statement on Tuesday that it is aware of the video circulating on social media. FDLE and the State Attorney’s Office are conducting an independent investigation into the shooting and its circumstances.
The sheriff’s office said it will conduct a formal review of the use of force incident after the investigations by FDLE and SAO.
Davis’s brother, who did not want to be identified, and the Oakleaf neighborhood are calling for answers and accountability, while the NAACP is now demanding a thorough probe into whether lethal force was necessary during the confrontation.
The man’s brother said he was not a threat due to his disability.
“He couldn’t move around very well,” his brother, who wished not to be identified, told News4JAX. “He couldn’t move around. My brother was disabled. Full disability. I think they were intimidated by his size and weight. He couldn’t get up and lunge at them.”
The brother also said the family retained a lawyer.
“It’s destroyed our whole family, and only thing I can say is I wish them justice for this,” he said.
The Clay County/Green Cover Springs branch of the NAACP issued a statement on the shooting, calling for accountability.
The Clay County/Green Cove Springs Branch NAACP is expressing outrage and deep concern regarding the recent tragic incident involving the fatal shooting of an unarmed African American male, reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis.
A video depicting the harrowing event has surfaced, prompting urgent discussion about the actions of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. In light of these disturbing revelations, we demand a thorough investigation and immediate answers from Sheriff Cook regarding the rationale behind the officers’ use of lethal force in a situation that, from our assessment, did not present an immediate threat to their safety or the safety of others.
Our community is grappling with the agonizing loss of a life that could have been saved. This incident highlights the critical need for law enforcement to be trained in handling mental health crises with compassion and care, rather than resorting to lethal measures that exacerbate the already fragile state of our community.
We believe in accountability, transparency, and justice. Sheriff Cook’s statements during her recent news conference failed to adequately address the serious questions surrounding this tragic event.
Clay County NAACP
The NAACP also called for the following actions to take place:
1. Immediate Transparency: We demand that Sheriff Cook provide a detailed explanation of the sequence of events leading to the shooting, along with the policies guiding such decisions.
2. Comprehensive Investigation: An independent investigation into the actions of the officers involved must be conducted to ensure impartiality and fairness.
3. Mental Health Training: It is imperative that the Clay County Sheriff’s Department implement rigorous training programs focusing on mental health crisis intervention to prevent future tragedies.
4. Community Engagement: We urge the department to actively engage with the community to build trust and understanding, especially in the context of sensitive situations involving vulnerable individuals