Family speaks 1 year after son was killed by Jackson officer
JACKSON, Tenn. — Family and friends gathered Friday to mark a somber anniversary of a deadly confrontation between their loved one and a Jackson police officer. “I am the father of Cinque D’Jahspora, who was murdered by Jackson police one year ago on this date,” L’Sana D’Jahspora said Friday. A grand jury, however, determined the deadly force used by the officer along North Parkway was in self-defense. Police released dashcam video in March, and investigators said D’Jahspora first threw a hammer at Officer Raymond Bond and then stabbed him before Bond opened fire. With no criminal charges filed, one year later the family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Jackson and its police department. Officer Bond returned to work in January and no charges were filed. The investigation was completed in March. “One year after the murder of our son, Q, by police, obstruction of the family’s effort for justice continues by the city and its police department,” D’Jahspora said. The lawsuit, in which the family seeks $8 million, claims Bond shot Cinque as he laid face down on the ground, and they say the 20-year-old posed no threat. During an afternoon gathering, names were read of those killed in confrontations with police, and their stories were shared. L’Sana hopes his son’s story will spread to families nationwide. “What happened to our son is part of a larger phenomenon around this country, and we recognize there are many families,” D’Jahspora said. The family held a memorial Friday night. Jackson’s city attorney said they hadn’t had time yet to review the lawsuit the family has filed.
