Lawsuit Seeks Justice for Family of 25-Year-Old Father Killed During 2022 Traffic Stop
JACKSON, MISS—September 29, 2025—DiCello Levitt, along with Rogers Law Group, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the family of Jaylen Lewis, a 25-year-old unarmed Black man fatally shot by Mississippi Capitol Police officers during a routine traffic stop in Jackson, Mississippi on September 25, 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that officers Steven Frederick and Michael Rhinewalt used excessive and unjustified force when they shot and killed Mr. Lewis, who posed no threat to officers or the public. The complaint further asserts that the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and Capitol Police maintained policies and customs that fostered a culture of violence, failed to properly train and supervise officers, and ignored repeated warnings about unconstitutional policing practices.
According to the complaint, the Capitol Police’s expansion into Jackson was marked by a surge in high-intensity encounters and officer-involved shootings, including multiple incidents where unarmed citizens were shot. The suit details how outdated policies, lack of body cameras, and a failure to discipline officers contributed to a pattern of excessive force and civil rights violations.
“Jaylen Lewis should be alive today,” said DiCello Levitt Partner Bobby DiCello, who is representing the Lewis family. “The actions of these officers were not just reckless—they were unconscionable and indefensible. Jaylen was a devoted father with his whole life ahead of him, and his family deserves justice. We are committed to fighting for accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform, so that no other family in Jackson has to endure this kind of heartbreak.”
The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as court-ordered reforms to ensure the Capitol Police adopt and enforce policies that prevent future tragedies. A copy of the complaint is available here.
The legal team in this matter is led by DiCello Levitt’s Bobby DiCello, Ken Abbarno, Joseph Frate, and Jordyn Parks, along with L.N. Chandler Rogers of Rogers Law Group.
About DiCello Levitt
At DiCello Levitt, we’re dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, environmental, mass tort, securities, financial services, antitrust, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, and civil and human rights litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases—whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise—for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens’ rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations—and our capital—on the line for our clients.
DiCello Levitt has achieved top recognition as Plaintiffs Firm of the Year and Trial Innovation Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal, in addition to its top-tier Chambers and Benchmark ratings. For more information about the firm, including recent trial victories and case resolutions, please visit www.dicellolevitt.com.
Media Contact Caitlin Whitehurst, Director of Communications, cwhitehurst@dicellolevitt.com