A 17-year-old boy suffering from mental health issues was shot dead by officers who were called only to make sure he was okay.
The fatal incident happened in 2018 in Overland Park, Kansas. As per UPWORTHY, the FBI has opened a new investigation on the case.
While his parents and two younger brothers were out to dinner, John, 17, was having an emotional episode related to his mental health issues. Sheila Albers, his mother, received alerting messages that her son was not safe alone as he had written disturbing posts insinuating suicidal intentions. His friends had immediately called the police to check on him. The family rushed home as soon as possible.
When John’s family arrived, they witnessed a scene they had never expected to see. They saw their minivan in the neighbors’ yard with the teen on the driver’s seat being shot dead by a police officer. Six out of a total of 13 shots fired had struck the boy. The shooting was captured on three police cameras and a neighbor’s doorbell camera.
The police officer who killed John was identified as Clayton Jenison, but he was not found guilty of any wrongdoing.
According to the department, his actions were justified because he felt his life was in danger. However, the teen’s mother is convinced Jenison was not innocent. In an exclusive interview for Fox 4 News Kansas City, she said:
“The officer fired 13 times at my son. Clayton Jenison used excessive force. He ended my son’s life.”
The policeman who killed the teen resigned with $70,000 severance pay less than a month after the shooting. Furthermore, in 2019, the city paid $2.3 million to John’s mother, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
In September 2020, the FBI has launched a new investigation on the fatal incident.
FBI Kansas City spokeswoman Bridget Patton announced:
“The Kansas City FBI Field Office, the Civil Rights Division, and the US Attorney’s office for the District of Kansas have opened a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of an Overland Park teen, John Albers.”
Patton claimed the FBI is going to look through all the available information on the case and will “ensure that the investigation is conducted in a fair, thorough, and impartial manner.”
Regarding the news of the FBI inquiry, Ms. Albers told Kansas City Star:
“The FBI investigation highlights the failure of Overland Park and District Attorney Steve Howe to be transparent in their investigations and be accountable to their constituents. We are thankful to the FBI and the US Attorney for the district of Kansas for reopening the case and shed light on what Overland Park and our DA have been able to keep hidden.”
After the 17-year-old’s tragic death, his family has established a community organization urging for police transparency, called JOCO United. The association encourages cooperation between law enforcement, government, and the community to “improve safety, transparency, and mental health response.”
