Jamiesfeast – The Maryland Office Attorney General has identified the police officer and the man involved in the fatal police shooting that occurred on February 1 in Suitland, according to DC News Now.
31-year-old Melvin Jay has been identified as the man who was shot and killed.
The officer who fired the weapon is Braxton Shelton, a Prince George’s County Police Officer. With four years of experience in law enforcement, he is currently assigned to the Bureau of Patrol.
“It’s very unfortunate, very unfortunate situation that we have another black person who is in their home, doing nothing wrong and is murdered by the police,” said Qiana Johnson, co-founder of Harriet’s Wildest Dreams.
On Sunday, a touching candlelight vigil took place to honor and remember Melvin.
Johnson expressed that the outpouring of love for Melvin was overwhelming. The crowd’s deep affection for him was evident, and it was clear that his absence would be deeply felt.
According to Johnson, the local advocacy group is not just standing behind the family, but also actively seeking justice and holding the police accountable.
“We believe that there were several overlooked alternatives that could have been pursued. It is of utmost importance for us to have access to the body camera footage and the 911 call as soon as possible. Any information that the police department possesses regarding the events of that day should be disclosed to shed light on what truly transpired,” Johnson emphasized.
According to the police, an officer was dispatched to the Windham Creek apartments in the 5100 block of Suitland Rd. following a report of a break-in. Upon arrival, a verbal altercation ensued between Jay and the officer. Tragically, Jay was fatally shot by Officer Shelton during this confrontation. The authorities have also revealed that two firearms were found in close proximity to the victim.
According to Johnson, Jay’s family has informed her that it was a neighbor who called the police. Jay was reportedly in the process of explaining to the officer that he lived at the apartment.
Harriets Wildest Dreams is committed to seeking justice for all families who have tragically lost their loved ones due to police brutality.
“We will fight tooth and nail if we don’t stand up against this injustice and allow police officers to get away with it,” she emphasized.
According to the Maryland Attorney General, the police will persist in investigating the details surrounding the shooting.