Aiyana Jones: One Year Anniversary of the Death of a 7-Year-Old Detroit Girl

myFOXdetroit.com Staff - Aiyana Stanley Jones was a seven-year-old girl from the east Side of Detroit who was shot and killed during a raid conducted by the Detroit Police Department's Special Response Team on May 16, 2010.

On Monday, a protest by the Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee entailed flying an aerial banner from the house where Aiyana Jones was killed to downtown Detroit. A small plane pulled a banner that read "Justice for Aiyana Jones" and made 3-4 round trips. Funds were raised on Facebook to pay for the flight and banner.

The committee is upset that no charges have been filed against Detroit Police for causing the death of Aiyana.  Play the video to see Amy Lange's report>>

A year ago the little girl was sleeping on the couch inside a home on Lillibridge Street.  A police raid took place around 1:00 a.m. Detroit Police were looking for Chauncey Owens, a suspect in a murder case.  Police reports confirm they used a "stun" or "flash" grenade to help them get inside the home.  A bullet fired from an officer's gun hit Aiyana in the head. The civil suit pending in Wayne County Circuit Court says Detroit police Officer Joseph Weekly fired the fatal shot.

Aiyana's death has drawn national media attention. U.S. Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich) requested an FBI investigation. Al Sharpton delivered the Eulogy at her funeral.  Attorney Geoffrey Fieger has filed a wrongful death suit.

A few days after her death, then Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans gave this statement:

"I want to say to the entire Jones family, Aiyanas loved ones and friends, how terribly sorry I am for your loss. I have children and grandchildren and cannot comprehend losing one of them, especially under such painful circumstances. I will never be able to put myself in your shoes. Although the investigation into the circumstances of Aiyanas death is now being conducted by the Michigan State Police, the Detroit PoliceDepartment has its own painful self-examination to undergo. Whatever our findings, they wont be pretty. There is no way they can be under these circumstances. They wont be pretty, but they will behonest.There is a lot more I want to say, but unfortunately cannot, as it relates to this case or the lawsuits that were announced today as well as some of the allegations that have been made against this departmentand its officers. Again, I would like to express my condolences to the Jones family."

The G4 network featured several profiles of Detroit's special response teams -- including Officer Joseph Weekley's SWAT squad.  The video below shows some of the  SWAT team's weapons.  It also demonstrates the execution of a "high-risk search warrant," in which two flash-bang grenades are used.
 

Press Release from the Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee:

As of 12:00 a.m., May 16, 2011, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office in Detroit has not charged Detroit Police Officer Joe Weekley or anyone with the senseless and brutal murder of 7 year old Aiyana Jones. And despite the numerous complaints, and worldwide outrage, justice for Aiyana Jones in Detroit appears to have gone cold.

Thus, the Justice for Aiyana Jones Committee (JAJC) has arranged for an aerial banner to fly from the house where Aiyana Jones was killed to downtown Detroit beginning at 1 pm, May 16, 2011 which is the one-year anniversary of her demise. The small plane will pull a banner that will read Justice for Aiyana Jones and is scheduled to make 3-4 round trips.

JAJC spokesperson, Roland Lawrence aka Fige Bornu said, It has been a complete year since little Aiyana was snatched from life as a result of a reckless and/or intentional act by the Detroit Police Department. To add fire to her demise, local, state and federal authorities have literally ignored the gross and ghastly inhumane actions of the Detroit Police Department that took place in the wee hours of the morning when Aiyanas push to death was scripted and videotaped by the A & E cable program, The Next 48 Hours. We are demanding that the Detroit Police Department and A & E be criminally charged with the death of Aiyana Jones, and that Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and the Detroit City Council acknowledge that the Detroit Police Department acted in total disregard when they actively participated in the killing of Aiyana Jones.

Community activists from London, England, Ohio, Florida, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York and Detroit worked with JAJC to create this one-year aerial protest of the death of Aiyana Jones.