Two former Capitol Police officers faced cross-examination Friday regarding their contention that they were forced to shoot a Jackson man in self-defense after he tried to run them over.
Friday marked the third day of testimony in the manslaughter trial of Michael Rhinewalt and Steven Frederick Jr., who served on the crime suppression Flex Unit of the Capitol Police.
Friday also marked the fourth anniversary of the day, Sept. 25, 2022, when officers fired into the Jeep Grand Cherokee of 25-year-old Jaylen Lewis and killed him.
Rhinewalt testified that they stopped the Jeep Grand Cherokee because it matched the general description of a car suspected in auto burglaries.
When Lewis backed up his Cherokee and rammed into another law enforcement car behind him, he and Frederick drew their guns, Rhinewalt said.
Both of them called out for Lewis to show his hands, he said. He quoted himself as telling Frederick, “Watch his hands. I think he has a gun.”
When Lewis pulled forward, he said he and Frederick yelled for him to stop, and so did his female passenger.
Rhinewalt said he made eye contact with Lewis. “It’s like he looks up, takes a deep breath and says, ‘F— you and gasses it.’”
He said nothing blocked Lewis from going to the left, but “he turned his vehicle toward us, trying to run us over.”
He feared for his life, he said. “I thought of my wife and kids. I didn’t want to do what he made me do.”
He fired two shots into the front windshield, including the fatal shot to Lewis’ head, and a third shot hit the frame between the front windshield and side window.
He said he actually put his hand on the hood of Lewis’ the car when he fired the third shot and that the car lifted him off the ground.
The impact of the car prompted him to roll on the ground, he said.
Special Assistant Attorney General Luke Williamson asked Rhinewalt if his testimony that he told Frederick about Lewis may have a gun was in his original statement to investigators.
Rhinewalt said no.
Williamson asked him about his statement that the car lifted him up. “That’s not in the recording, is it?”
Rhinewalt said no.
Williamson asked him about his statement about rolling on the ground.
“Actually I was struck,” he said. “I lost my balance from coming off the hood.”
“That’s not in the recording?” Williamson said.
“No, it’s not,” Rhinewalt replied.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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