WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice is monitoring the investigation into the shooting death of Darrius Stewart by a Memphis police officer.
That’s according to Congressman Steve Cohen who is on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Stewart was killed in July after officer Connor Schilling said Stewart attacked him during a traffic stop.
Police say Stewart was a passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation.
Stewart had two outstanding warrants at the time of his death.
Iowa City police say the warrant came from of a complaint that showed Stewart was wanted for two counts of second-degree sexual abuse against a child under 12.
The state of Illinois also had an active juvenile delinquency warrant from 2009 for a person matching Stewart’s profile with the same birth date.
Schilling said when he opened the door of his police car, Stewart lunged at him and then used the officer’s handcuffs to beat him.
A Tennessee Bureau of Investigations review is in the hands of the Shelby County District Attorney.
“The shooting of Darrius Stewart by a Memphis police officer raised serious questions that must be answered. With the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s records regarding this incident sealed under state law, we need the Department of Justice to ensure the case is handled appropriately at the state level,” said Cohen in a prepared statement.