Three Jackson police officers indicted for murder in George Robinson’s death

Three Jackson police officers have been charged with murder in connection with the death of George Robinson, 62, in January 2019.

A grand jury returned indictments for second-degree murder on Desmond Barney, Lincoln Lampley and Anthony Fox, citing that the officers “willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously” caused Robinson’s death, the Clarion Ledger reports.

The indictment says the officers removed Robinson from his vehicle, slammed him into the pavement and repeatedly hit him in the head and chest. They arrested him on misdemeanor charges of failure to obey a police officer and resisting arrest but released him.

A few hours later, Robinson was hospitalized. He died two days later.

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart ruled the death a homicide by blunt force trauma in January of this year, after which the officers were placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. JPD’s Internal Affairs Division and the FBI investigated the case and found no wrongdoing in the case on the part of the officers. The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office undertook a separate investigation, which has resulted in the indictments.

Barney, Lampley and Fox turned themselves in Thursday. Barney and Lampley received bonds of $100,000 each while Fox’s bond was set at $250,000.

All three officers still work in area law enforcement. Lampley remains with JPD, although he was reassigned to a desk job, while Barney and Fox moved to the Clinton Police Department.

The Robinson family, who have filed a lawsuit against the city, released the following statement:

“As the family of George Robinson, we are pleased the Jackson Police Department officers involved in his death have finally been charged with murder. For us, the charges prove that George’s life mattered and no one deserves to die the way he did. We are grateful that the District Attorney has taken this action. We have cooperated with the investigation in every way and will continue to do so until we finally get justice for our beloved George.”