JACKSON, ma'am. — A woman who was shot in the head while a passenger in a car fleeing police has filed a federal lawsuit against a state department in Mississippi's capital.
Sherita Harris was shot in the head during an August 2022 chase that began after a traffic stop in Jackson, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in the U.S. Southern District of Mississippi. Two Capitol Police officers, who patrol an area filled with government buildings, stopped a car driven by Harris' friend for running a red light.
According to the lawsuit, which alleges excessive force, an officer began shooting at the car after the traffic stop.
A spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Capitol Police, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Police have not confirmed whether Harris was shot by an officer, NBCNews.com reported.
Officers said the car Harris was in fled after they exited their patrol vehicle and that they heard gunshots from the car as they gave chase, court records show. One of the officers shot at the car, after which it crashed into the curb.
According to records, the driver got out and continued on foot. Officers said they saw a black object in his hands and shot him. After arresting him, they discovered that the black object was a cell phone. The officers never recovered a weapon, but later claimed in a court hearing that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which investigates police shootings, had recovered a weapon elsewhere.
After arresting the driver, officers said they found Harris slumped in the passenger seat of the car. She was transported to a hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove bullet fragments from her head, the lawsuit said. Harris continues to suffer from impaired speech, walking and cognitive abilities, the lawsuit said.
She has not been charged with a crime, but the driver was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, according to NBCNews.com.
The Mississippi Attorney General's Office is investigating the episode for possible violations that could result in charges for the officers involved. The officers have been cleared to return to work while the office conducts the review.
Carlos Moore, Harris' attorney, has called on federal prosecutors to investigate the case. The lawsuit seeks $3 million in damages.