Local

FBI to review JSO investigation of fatal shooting by officer

The FBI will review the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigation in to the shooting death of Vernell Bing Jr. by Officer Tyler Landreville.

Sheriff Mike Williams says these types of reviews are "not uncommon", but not publicly announced.  He says they have been in touch with the FBI Jacksonville since the onset of the investigation, but they decided now to tell the public about the review.

“We do this in an effort really to bring some confidence to the community about the processes we're going through right now,” Williams says.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michelle Klimt says after the local investigations are complete, the FBI Jacksonville, US Attorney’s Office, and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division will do an independent assessment. If they find information on potential federal violations, the FBI will investigate and submit the results to federal prosecutors.

The FBI focus is “color of law violations”, or whether someone acting under the authority of law or in an official capacity deprived someone of civil liberties.

"That the officer knew what they were doing was wrong and did it anyway, and acted intentionally and unreasonably,” Klimt says.

Bing was shot in May in Springfield by Landreville, and later died.

In previous statements, Williams said police don't know what caused Landreville to shoot following a high-speed chase and collision. We've now confirmed Landreville has made a statement to police, but the details of that aren't being revealed by investigators.

"We want to protect that statement, we want to protect all witness testimony at this point. That's what gives validity to the testimony,” Williams says.

Landreville, a 7-year veteran of the force, shot at Bing five times, striking him once in the head.  He noticed a Chevy Camero traveling northbound on MLK Pkwy near 8th St. on May 2, and recognized the car from a shooting at 11th St. Tire Shop on April 16. Landreville initiated a pursuit, by activating lights and sirens.

In a briefing the day after the incident, JSO Chief Chris Butler said the pursuit lasted five minutes, spanned 3.7 miles, and featured “excessive” speeds.

Bing, 22, was traveling southbound on Main St., crossed over the median to the northbound lanes and narrowly missed a sitting officer, according to JSO.  Landreville continued pursuit, and was confronted by the suspect’s car traveling the opposite direction on 9th St. The two vehicles collided head on.

“According to the data recorders taken from the suspect’s car, as well as the police car, the suspect’s speed half-a-second out prior to impact was 53 mph, and he was not applying the breaks,” Chief Butler said during that briefing, adding “Police Officer Landreville’s speed at the time was 14 mph, and he was breaking.”

Witnesses tell police that Landreville approached Bing, who was still inside his car after it crashed in to a building on Liberty St. Landreville’s weapon was holstered as he approached the car.

“For some reason, as the suspect exits from his car, something caused Police Officer Landreville to unholster his weapon and shoot at the suspect multiple time,” Butler said. “I don’t know what caused Police Officer Landreville to discharge his weapon at that time, something caused him to do that.”

No weapons were found in Bing’s car.

Williams says their investigation will not be affecting by the FBI involvement.

"I’m confident in our process and I’m confident that our investigation and administrative review will be done in complete accordance with the law,” he says.

Following the Friday update from JSO and the FBI, Bing's mother said she's glad they're moving forward, but that's not going to bring her son back.

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