A&E’s hit crime show, The First 48, accompanies cops during the first 48 hours of homicide investigations. The premise of the show is based around the first 48 hours being the most critical time in successfully finding a killer.
Just after midnight on Sunday May 16, 2010, the A&E camera crew filmed a police raid in Detroit that will never air on the show. In fact, those involved are trying their hardest to ensure that no one ever sees the footage.
That morning, Detroit police began their raid on the Jones’ house, by throwing a flash-bang grenade through the window and shooting their way through the door. This grenade landed on or next to little seven year old Aiyana Jones, who was fast asleep on the couch. Upon detonation, Aiyana was severely burnt and then struck and killed by a bullet from the entering police.
In a ridiculous effort to point the finger, Detroit police arrested Aiyana’s grandmother Mertilla Jones. Mertilla was assaulted and humiliated and tested for drugs and gunpowder (all tests came back negative).
Mertilla was quoted on Tuesday saying,
“As soon as they hit the window, I hit the floor, and I went to reach for my granddaughter. I call her Malia—her name is Aiyana—because she’s my Mini-Me. My Mini-Me. I seen the light leave out her eyes. I knew she was dead. She had blood coming out of her mouth. Lord Jesus, I ain’t never seen nothing like that in my life. And my seven-year-old grandbaby! My beautiful, beautiful, gorgeous granddaughter! My goodness! What type of people? What type of people?
You can’t trust the police. You can’t trust Detroit police. You can’t trust them. You can’t trust them. They wouldn’t even let us go check on the other babies. They wouldn’t even let us go check on the other kids. They were so rude to us. And when I see y’all done killed my grandbaby on an effed-up [inaudible], then one of them said, ‘Oh, [bleep],’ and grabbed her up and ran out the house.”
A seven year old baby girl burnt and shot dead by police in North America. How many more children need to die at the hands of foolish policing and “mistakes” before we rise up together and change the system? I’ll bet this never even made your local six o’clock news. Don’t let it be your baby before you decide to take a stand.
My heart goes out to the Jones family on their tragic loss.
Rest In Peace Aiyana Jones.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/She-Has-A-Name-Aiyana-Jones/122734241085128
