The family of a mentally ill man who was shot and killed in 2022 by a deputy from the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department – after allegedly striking the officer with a blunt object – has filed suit against Forrest County for wrongful death and violations of the man’s human, civil Constitutional rights.
The suit was filed in February in Forrest County Circuit Court by James Hughes, individually and on behalf of Chloe Hughes and all other heirs-at-law and wrongful death beneficiaries of the deceased Corey Maurice Hughes. It requests a jury trial, in which the family will seek attorney’s fees, costs of court and other relief which may be entitled.
“This is a wrongful death action brought as a result of the collective assault, negligence, gross negligence and reckless disregard for the safety of others by the defendants,” reads the suit. “Law enforcement personnel … inflicted unnecessary bodily harm on (Corey Maurice) Hughes through the use of excessive, unreasonable and unjustifiable force.
“As a direct and proximate consequence, Hughes was severely injured and died.”
The suit alleges that on July 14, 2022, Forrest County deputies were called to the home of Hughes’ sister to transport the man to a local hospital for mental health treatment. Prior to that incident, the sheriff’s department had reportedly been called for the same reason on 16 occasions.
Because of that, the suit alleges, deputies were aware that Hughes had not taken his prescribed medication and special precautions may have needed to be taken. In addition, Hughes’ family was ready, willing and able to assist deputies if necessary.
Upon arriving at Hughes’ sister’s home, deputies attempted to physically restrain Hughes for transport, at which point a deputy shot Hughes in the torso and head, causing his death.
“The … law enforcement officers violated Hughes’ Fourth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment Constitution rights by the use of deadly force, conducting an illegal seizure of Hughes and denying him his right to due process,” the suit states. “At all relevant times, Hughes did not threaten to harm anyone.
“At all relevant times, the … officers were not in imminent fear of being harmed. The detainment, shooting and harm to Hughes were objectively unreasonable. The (deputies) collectively owed a duty of care to Hughes, to act as reasonable, prudent officers of the law would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.”
The complaint also alleges that at the time of the incident, Forrest County and other officers with the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department were negligent in hiring, retaining, supervising, training and/or controlling their employees. The county/department was presented with an available opportunity to avoid the incident, but failed to exercise sufficient control to prevent it.
The Hughes family is being represented by Jackson attorney Dennis Sweet.
According to a report released by the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department, Hughes struck a deputy with a blunt object before being shot by the deputy. The four deputies at the scene were not wearing body cameras, because the department had just began to purchase the cameras the previous month after receiving a federal grant for the equipment.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into the matter, as is the custom for every incident of officer-related shooting in the state. Officials from the sheriff’s department said they would be unable to comment further until the MBI’s investigation is closed.
In March, Forrest County filed an answer to the Hughes’ complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The answer denies every allegation laid forth by the complaint and requests the case be dismissed.
“And now, having answered the complaint, the answering defendant requests that the same be dismissed and discharged with costs assessed against the plaintiffs,” the answer states.
The county is being represented by Brookhaven attorneys William Allen and Kevin White.
