3 Mississippi cops charged with murder for the 2019 death of George Robinson

A Mississippi grand jury on Thursday indicted three law enforcement officers on charges of second-degree murder in the death of 62-year-old George Robinson last year.

According to the Hinds County grand jury indictment, three officers with the Jackson Police Department (JPD) removed Robinson from his vehicle, slammed him onto the pavement, and repeatedly hit his head and chest, the Clarion-Ledger reported.

The state medical examiner found that Robinson died of a subdural hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head, according to coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart.

Officers Desmond Barney, Lincoln Lampley and Anthony Fox were charged with “willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously” causing the death of Robinson.

According to the report, Lampley was reassigned to a desk job for JPD while Fox and Barney now work for the Clinton Police Department.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said the independent investigation into the three officers was necessary for “an accountable police department.” 

Robinson’s family said they were “pleased” with the grand jury’s ruling.

The incident between the three officers and Robinson occurred Jan. 13, 2019, after reports that the Rev. Anthony Longino, 62, was gunned down near Robinson’s neighborhood.

Officers suspected Robinson as being the gunman at the time and arrested him for “noncompliance” on misdemeanor charges.

He was released from custody on the same day under the expectation he would appear for a later court date. Officers charged him at the time with failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest.

Later that evening, surveillance footage showed Robinson checking into a hotel room at the Mustang Motel. He was hospitalized hours later for conditions relating to the subdural hemorrhage and died two days later, with his death being ruled as a homicide.

Francis Springer, one of the attorneys representing the officers, said evidence in the case would vindicate the officers, citing they were previously cleared of wrongdoing by an Internal Affairs Division of JPD.   

The officers turned themselves in Thursday and immediately posted bond. Barney and Lampley were each given a $100,000 bond, and Fox received a $250,000 bond.