Trial begins for 2 white Mississippi men charged with shooting at Black FedEx driver

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. — Jury choice started Tuesday within the trial of two white males in Mississippi who’re accused of chasing and taking pictures at a Black FedEx driver who had dropped off a bundle at a house.

Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Charles Case, had been indicted in November on costs of tried first-degree homicide, conspiracy and taking pictures into the car of D’Monterrio Gibson in January 2022.

Gibson, who was 24 on the time, was not injured. However the chase and gunfire led to complaints on social media of racism in Brookhaven, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of the state capital, Jackson. The trial will happen in Brookhaven.

Throughout a information convention days after the confrontation, Gibson mentioned he was carrying a FedEx uniform and driving an unmarked van FedEx had rented when he dropped off a bundle at a home. He mentioned that as he was leaving, he observed a white pickup truck pulling away from one other home on the identical massive lot.

Gibson mentioned the pickup driver tried to chop him off as he left the driveway. He mentioned he swerved across the driver after which encountered a second man who had a gun pointed on the van and was motioning for him to cease. Gibson mentioned the person fired as he drove away, damaging the van and packages inside. The white pickup chased him to Interstate 55 close to Brookhaven earlier than ending the pursuit, he mentioned.

Carlos Moore, an lawyer who represented Gibson in a lawsuit in federal courtroom, in contrast the episode to the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was operating empty-handed by a Georgia subdivision in 2020 when three white strangers chased him down and blasted him with a shotgun.

Moore mentioned Tuesday that Gibson’s household “is cautiously optimistic that they’re going to get justice right here in Lincoln County.”

On Thursday, U.S. District Choose Daniel P. Jordan III dismissed the $5 million lawsuit Moore filed on behalf of Gibson in January 2023. The go well with was in opposition to FedEx, the town of Brookhaven, Brookhaven Police Chief Kenny Collins, Brandon Case and Gregory Charles Case.

Jordan wrote that Gibson’s lawyer did not show FedEx discriminated in opposition to Gibson due to his race.

“The Circumstances’ alleged conduct is deplorable,” Jordan wrote. “However Gibson fails to state a viable declare in opposition to FedEx for which the Court docket would have unique jurisdiction.”

Moore mentioned Friday that he plans to sue in state courtroom. He additionally mentioned Gibson continues to be employed by FedEx and is out on employees’ compensation go away.