VIDEO: Shumpert Family Responds To New Information

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) — After the city of Tupelo released more information into the officer-involved shooting that killed 37-year-old Ronnie Shumpert, Shunpert’s family and family attorney Carlos Moore held a press conference addressing the new information.

Last week, Moore filed a $35 million dollar civil rights lawsuit against the city, and Wednesday, he announced he would be asking the United States Justice Department to criminally prosecute Officer Tyler Cook, who was involved in the shooting and killing of Shumpert.

“We asked the Department of Justice to open a criminal investigation into the actions of Tyler Cook, as well as to investigate the entire Tupelo Police Department for instances of excessive force”, Moore said.

Moore also said his investigation found that the Tupelo police officer who made the initial traffic stop is Officer Michael Russell.

Moore believes that Russell’s involvement the night of the incident should be under further investigation.

Moore also said in the press conference that he believes the photo released showing Cook’s injuries was staged.

“I have to be honest…”, said Moore, “…when I first saw the photo, my first thought was is it Mac or was it Revlon?”

“It appears the injuries are to the right side of the face of Tyler Cook. We know that Mr. Shumpert is right handed and so those injuries should have been to the opposite side…”, said Moore.

“The family knows that Ronnie was athletic, if Ronnie had been punching that man the way they depict…on top of him, that man’s face should have been bloody, bruised, and he should have been unrecognizable.”

In the city’s release of information, Mayor Jason Shelton said their own independent medical examination said there were no signs of injury from the police K-9 unit, and that the dog was missing four teeth at the time.

Moore responded to that information asking why the police K-9 was still in service while missing four teeth, noting that the dog had recently been re-certified.

“If that canine had all it’s teeth, maybe [Ronnie] Shumpert would be alive”, said Moore, “The dog should have been able to stop an unarmed man.”

Moore also said he had his own medical investigation conducted by the Chief Medical Examine in Washington, D.C., Dr. Roger Mitchell, and Mitchell reported different findings.

“The findings that are documented by hospital records are consistent with an altercation with another person and a canine….”, Moore read from a printed email from Mitchell detailing his report, “…the altercation culminating in multiple gunshots wounds was caused in the death to the patient.”

Moore also said the past crimes committed by Shumpert were “non-violent”, one being a burglary and larceny charge back in 2006, and the current indictment was theft by deception.

“This family deserves justice…”, said Moore, “…we aren’t creating any facts…I’m a lawyer, not an activist. I was not a witness, I was not there. I can only present the facts as I learn them and appreciate them.”

The Shumpert family declined to comment, but Moore said the family is asking for continued prayers and to exercise their right to protest in a peaceful manner.