Mistrial Declared for Police Officer Who Killed Aiyana Jones

The 7-year-old was shot and killed during a police raid on her grandmother's home.

By Julianne Hing Jun 19, 2013

The Detroit police officer who killed 7-year-old Aiyana Jones in a home raid in 2010 has escaped conviction, for now. This morning Wayne County Judge Cynthia Hathaway set a new date–July 25–for all parties to reconvene for a potential retrial after declaring a mistrial on Tuesday afternoon, MLive.com reported. The jury deciding Detroit police officer Joseph Weekley’s fate could not come to a unanimous decision regarding the involuntary manslaughter charge against Weekley.

Weekley was part of a team that raided Jones’ home during filming of the A&E reality show "The First 48" on May 16, 2010. Seconds after entering the home, Weekley shot Jones, who was asleep on her grandmother’s couch. During the trial Weekley testified that he shot Jones after her grandmother hit his gun from the couch, and he hadn’t realized he’d fired his weapon until after he returned to the room, MLive.com reported. 

If the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office so chooses, it could move to stage the entire trial again for a brand new jury.