Mississippi State Conference NAACP Calls for Continued Investigation into the Death of Hanged Scott County Man

Mississippi State Conference NAACP Calls for Continued Investigation into the Death of Hanged Scott County Man

       JACKSON, MISS. – The Mississippi State Conference NAACP (MS NAACP) is calling for the continued investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Willie Andrew Jones, Jr., an African American man whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in the front yard of a Scott County, Miss., residence in February of this year. MS NAACP has joined the Jones and Townsend families to request a full examination of the facts by the FBI.

“We continue to support the Jones and Townsend families’ search for answers,” said Charles R. Hampton, Mississippi NAACP President. “The families deserve a complete and thorough accounting of the facts surrounding Mr. Jones’ death.”

Earlier this year, the MS NAACP called for a full and transparent investigation after the Scott County Sheriff’s Office elected not to report the incident to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation until the week following Jones’ death. The Scott County Sheriff’s office initially ruled the incident a suicide without the benefit of a full investigation.

“We want justice for Willie,” said Tammie Townsend, Jones’ mother. “We can’t get justice without all of the facts, and we can’t get all of the facts without a complete investigation.” MS NAACP will continue to support the family and work with local, state, and federal law enforcement to obtain all the facts surrounding this incident.