MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a news conference on Tuesday, the District Attorney Amy Weirich announced a Shelby County Grand Jury decided not to indict Memphis Police Officer Connor Schilling in the death of Darrius Stewart.
She said the jurors that made up the Grand Jury were pulled from the same pool as regular trial juries.
The case was presented to the Grand Jury along with the recommendation that Schilling be indicted on voluntary manslaughter charges and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
They met on Tuesday, and found no probable cause to send the case to trial.
Weirich said 12 votes were needed for an indictment.
In addition, they also had the option to indict on charges not recommended by the District Attorney, but chose not to.
Throughout the news conference, Weirich repeatedly stressed the point the Grand Jury was separate from her office and didn’t work for her.
She said they were an independent body, who made their own decision in the case.
Moving forward, Weirich said she has filed a petition to get permission to release the TBI file to the public.
Under the law, TBI files are not open to the public except through a subpoena or by court order.
“As difficult as this news will be for the community to receive, this process worked. The grand jury has spoken,” said Weirich.
Moments after the news conference, NAACP and church leaders met outside the D.A’s Office and told the media they were very disappointed in the outcome of the case.
They asked people to remain calm and peaceful, and not take matters into their own hands.
But, that doesn’t mean they will be silent, they said.
The NAACP president said they want the documents from the investigation released.
Stewart was killed back in July during a traffic stop.
Officer Schilling detained the 19-year-old in the back of his squad car while he checked for warrants.
When it was discovered he had two, he opened the rear door to place Stewart under arrest.
That’s when Schilling said Stewart attacked him, and during the struggle shots were fired.
On Tuesday, Director Armstrong spoke with the media and said Schilling will continue to be on paid leave.
He will be served on Wednesday for an administrative hearing to open within the next week or so.
More information on the Grand Jury