Mother sues Mississippi police over son's 2022 killing
Arkela Lewis filed a civil lawsuit on Oct. 2, 2025 in Jackson, Mississippi, alleging that Mississippi Capitol Police officers fatally shot her 25‑year‑old son, Jaylen Lewis, during a Sept. 25, 2022 traffic stop. The suit names officers Stephen Frederick and Michael Rhinewalt, the Mississippi Capitol Police and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, notes that the officers were indicted for manslaughter in March and are no longer employed with DPS, and seeks damages plus a court order requiring policy changes to prevent similar misconduct.
Legal
Crime
🔍 Key Facts
- Jaylen Lewis, 25, was shot during a traffic stop on Sept. 25, 2022 in Jackson, Miss.
- Officers Stephen Frederick and Michael Rhinewalt were indicted for manslaughter in March; both have pleaded not guilty and are no longer employed by the Department of Public Safety.
- Plaintiff Arkela Lewis asks the court to compel DPS and Capitol Police to adopt policies aimed at preventing the misconduct that led to her son's death and seeks compensation for emotional damages.