Police Officer’s Home Shot Up After City Councilman Tells People To Throw Rocks At Cops
A Pearl police officer’s home was targeted in a shooting while he was inside with his wife.
Pearl Police Officer’s Home Targeted In Shooting
Jackson, MS – Unknown suspects shot into Pearl Police Officer Alfred Jenkins’ home 30 times on Wednesday night while he and his wife took cover inside.
The cowardly attack occurred about 1 AM, and destroyed Officer Jenkins’ living room and bedroom, including TVs, furnishings, and memorabilia, according to WAPT. Rankin County Undersheriff Raymond Duke said that Officer Jenkins is moving immediately to another residence in the county, because he and his wife no longer feel safe.
Police said that more than 30 bullet holes were found in the home, and they appeared to be from a rifle and a handgun.
Although it isn’t proven that Officer Jenkins’ home was targeted because he was a police officer, that is the leading theory in the case.
Some believe that he was targeted because of a vehicle pursuit on Tuesday afternoon, July 17, that led from the town of Pearl into the city of Jackson. Officer Jenkins was not involved in that chase, according to The Clarion-Ledger.
In a Facebook post, Undersheriff Duke said:
“A coward is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as a person who shows shameless lack of courage. Some synonyms for “Thug” are; gangster, goon, gorilla, punk, also as defined by Webster’s Dictionary.
Tuesday night some cowardly punks committed a “hate crime” against one of Pearl PD’s finest. It doesn’t appear race was an issue, so let’s dismiss that before we go further.
Pearl Officer Alfred Jenkins and his wife were inside their South Jackson home when criminals fired in excess of twenty rounds into their residence. The only apparent reason is that Officer Jenkins chose a noble career that has now become looked at with disdain and hatred.
Officer Jenkins spends his working hours trying to protect others as they sleep or rest peacefully in their home. Now that same peace has been stolen from him and his family.
Hiding in the dark, some cowardly punks targeted Officer Jenkins for his career choice. It is by the grace of God the Jenkins were not injured. The attack against Officer Jenkins has forced him to move out of Jackson for his own safety.
If the thugs weren’t encouraged to throw rocks, bottles and sticks, maybe they would not have felt so comfortable in attempting to assassinate an officer simply because of the job he does.
If you personally know a law enforcement officer in Mississippi, you know we don’t do the job for the money. Most have to work a second and maybe third job just to provide a decent living for our family. Yes, that was our career choice and we knew we would face danger and possibly death. You just don’t expect it to happen in the security and sanctity of your own home.
The feeling of security and comfort will forever be changed for Officer Jenkins and his family.
Part of that change includes moving to another area where he can hopefully regain a feeling of safety. Officer Jenkins would never solicit help from others, but now is the time for others to lend a helping hand to Officer Jenkins.
The attack left most of the Jenkins living room and bedroom destroyed. TVs, furnishings, and memorabilia, were all destroyed. Let’s show Officer Jenkins our support by making a donation to a fund setup by Pearl PD for the Jenkins.
Sgt Brown with the Pearl Police Department is the point of contact if you would like to make a donation. The phone number from Pearl PD is 601-939-7000.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
This post is my, Raymond Duke’s, personal opinion and may not be those of Sheriff Bryan Bailey or the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department.”
In 2016, Jackson city councilman Kenneth Stokes ‘suggested’ that “residents throw rocks, bottles and bricks at officers from other metro law enforcement agencies that chase suspects into the city of Jackson.”
In response, Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey accused Stokes of inciting “hatred and violence” against the officers.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
