Mertilla Jones Testifies at Joseph Weekley's Trial, Says Officer Killed Her Granddaughter
Mertilla Jones testified yesterday about the police raid that reportedly took her 7-year-old granddaughter's life. Officer Joseph Weekley is currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter in Detroit.
According to Mertilla, she and her granddaughter, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, were both on the couch in her home when a stun grenade smashed through their window. Armed officers then entered the home, and within minutes, it was discovered that Aiyana was bleeding from a gunshot to the head.
"As soon as they came in, their guns were just pointing right there, and he (Joseph Weekley) pulled the trigger," Mertilla told the court. "I seen the light leave out of her eyes and the blood start gushing out her mouth and she was dead."
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Weekley was part of a special response team and selected as point man for the raid. Police were searching for murder suspect Chauncey Owens, and Weekley maintains that his gun accidentally fired when Mertilla bumped into him. However, Mertilla testified that Weekley was holding the gun next to her granddaughter's head when it went off.
"I rolled onto the floor because glass from the window was on the couch – lying on my stomach – looking at the front door. I saw all these police rushing in the front door. It looked like there could've been maybe three or four," Mertilla testified, disputing the accusation that she bumped Weekley.
"The gun went off and shot her in the head. I started screaming and hollering. 'Y'all done killed my grandbaby,'" Mertilla said. "They knew there were children in there. So why would they come in there like that? They came to kill, and they killed a 7-year-old."
Owens, the wanted suspect, lived in the upper unit of the home with Mertilla's daughter. Police found him there and took him into custody. He was charged with the murder of 17-year-old Je'rean Blake.
The Special Response Team was being shadowed by "The First 48," a TV show, during the raid and video recorded during the incident was shown to the court. Weekley's trial continues today.
