MEMPHIS, Tenn — Attorney Ben Crump held a news conference Friday morning focusing on the deaths of two Black men who were killed in police custody in separate incidents in Memphis.
Crump appeared alongside the families of Jarveon Hudspeth and Courtney Ross. 21-year-old Hudspeth was shot and killed by a Shelby County Sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop on June 24, 2023. Ross died Aug. 11 after an encounter with Memphis Police.
Thursday, the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released video of the fatal officer-involved shooting involving Hudspeth and a Shelby County Deputy. Crump is calling for video to be released of the Ross incident as well.
"When you see that video and you see my son leaving, my son was trying to get home. He was seven steps from home and he was trying to get home because I could protect him," said Hudspeth's mother Charlotte Haggett.
Just a few hours after Crump’s news conference, Decarcerate Memphis and other groups held a vigil outside of 201 Poplar to remember the lives lost inside the jail or at the hands of law enforcement.
"There's no clarification of why he was pulled over. Even with Jarveon pulling off, it should not have ended in death," said Alice Pettit Miller with Decarcerate Memphis.
Jarveon Hudspeth
The D.A.’s office said the videos in the incident with Hudspeth are from the deputy’s in-car camera, body-worn camera, and a neighbor’s RING camera. A warning that viewers may find the footage graphic and disturbing.
According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a Sheriff’s Deputy shot Hudspeth after a traffic stop escalated, and Hudspeth drove off, dragging the deputy for more than 100 yards. However, several questions remained on how the situation escalated that far in the first place. Read the TBI’s initial news release HERE.
According to the D.A., the video begins with both vehicles traveling on the road and ends after the deputy is ejected from the vehicle. Hudspeth died as a result of the shooting and the deputy suffered critical injuries.
“For transparency, our office is incorporating a new practice where we try to release videos in a timely manner as long as it does not compromise the integrity of the investigation,” said Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy in a news release. “In the past, video has not been released until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has completed its investigation. Our goal is to speed up that process by showing video as soon as possible when we are sure it won’t compromise the investigation. The release of the Jarveon Hudspeth video is evidence of our Office’s new practice.”
The Shelby County DA’s office said the Justice Review Unit is also investigating the traffic stop. Once the investigation is complete, they will recommend charges, if any, to the DA.
Crump released this statement following the video's release: “Two whole months after the tragic shooting that took the life of Jarveon Hudspeth, the public is finally seeing video of the unnecessary and senseless actions by law enforcement that led to his death. From the initial stop to the shot that killed Jarveon, every single choice made by this officer was reckless, and ultimately, deadly. The video clearly shows that the officer voluntarily climbed into the vehicle, potentially putting himself into harm’s way. And for what? Jarveon’s mother was informed by officials that the officer ran his license and registration, which came back clean. To this day –– more than 60 days later –– we do not know the initial reason for this deadly stop. Enough with the secrecy. Enough with the evasion. Enough with the silence. This family, and this community, deserve answers.”
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr., who is running for Memphis Mayor, released this statement following the announcement that Crump would represent the Hudspeth family as they called for release of the video: "The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is handling the investigation into the death of Jarveon Hudspeth. All information regarding the case, including notifications to the next of kin, would be through that agency.
It has come to my attention that specific individuals, including Attorney Ben Crump, have made inciting claims regarding releasing video evidence related to this active investigation.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will continue to follow the law as set forth by the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Legislature, and the Courts regarding the release of evidence while there is an active investigation or prosecution.
I strongly condemn these cheap political stunts aimed at manipulating public opinion and causing distress for all involved.
My primary focus remains on protecting the integrity of this investigation and providing support to my deputy, who is still recovering from serious injuries."
Courtney Ross
On Friday, Aug. 11, 2023, a property owner made a call to the police about Courtney Ross going through boxes that may have contained poison. Other nearby residents made calls about Ross looking into cars and going through mailboxes.
Memphis Police said Ross ran from officers when they arrived on scene. Investigators said when officers apprehended him, they placed him in the back of the squad car. MPD said after noticing he was short of breath, the officers called for an ambulance, which transported him to a hospital where he would later die.
The involved officers have been placed on leave.
Crump called on MPD and the City of Memphis to release footage of the incident.
“Another young Black man in Memphis has lost his life following an interaction with local police, and we are once again left with more questions than answers," Crump said. "Nothing can bring this young man back, but the truth about what happened that day can bring the family and community some measure of peace. The Memphis Police Department must immediately release the body and dash cam footage so this family, and this city’s residents, know the truth about what happened to Courtney. Accountability and transparency are paramount – Memphis can not move forward without it.”