Georgia is paying $4.8 million to the family of black man Julian Lewis, who was killed by a white state cop who tried to pull him over for a broken taillight, then forced his car into a ditch and shot him in the head when he didn’t stopped
- Julian Lewis, 60, was shot and killed by a Georgia State Police officer in August 2020
- The black motorist was shot in the head after being seen with a busted taillight
- State Trooper Jacob Thompson, 28, tried to stop Lewis but he kept driving
- White cop Thompson then drove Father Lewis into a ditch and shot him in the head
- The soldier was fired and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault – but a Georgia grand jury refused to indict him. US Attorney and FBI are now investigating
- The state of Georgia has now awarded Lewis’ family $4.8 million in a civil lawsuit
The widow and son of a black motorist who was shot in the head by a white state cop during a traffic stop over a broken taillight are being awarded nearly $5 million in settlements.
Julian Lewis, 60, was shot and killed by Soldier Jacob Thompson, 28, in August 2020 in the countryside 60 miles south of Savannah, Georgia.
After the state police officer signaled for Lewis to stop and he didn’t, Thompson crashed his car into a ditch.
Julian Lewis is survived by son Brook Bacon (Photo by Julian released by the Lewis family law firm)
As Lewis began to pull out of the ditch and toward the cop, Thompson pulled the trigger.
The state of Georgia will pay the sizeable $4.8 million settlement to Lewis’ family months after a grand jury decided not to charge Thompson with felony murder and aggravated assault.
Thompson was released from the Georgia State Patrol a week after the murder.
He was arrested and taken to the Screven County Jail before being charged.
However, prosecutors received no indictment from a grand jury, which decided in July 2021 not to proceed with the case.
Brook Bacon (front right) leads a 63-mile walk from the spot where his father was killed to the US Attorney’s Office in Savannah, Georgia, in September 2021. Brook said he will “not rest” until his father’s killer is incarcerated
Betty Lewis (center) wears a t-shirt with the face of her late husband Julian, flanked by attorneys Francys Johnson (left) and Mawuli Davis (right), in court on November 23, 2020.
Last summer, US Attorney David Estes said prosecutors were “investigating” Lewis’ murder “in consultation with the FBI.” No updates have been given since then.
Lewis was shot once through the head and died instantly after routine traffic stops escalated.
In a statement released last Thursday by the Lewis family law firm, Hall & Lampros, they said “it is believed” that Lewis continued to drive despite Thompson’s signal because he wanted to go “where he knew others people would be present”.
Lawyers for Jacob Thompson, 28, argue he acted in self-defense. He was arrested a week after the murder (left, mugshot) and fired from his job with the State Patrol (right, in uniform).
And while $4.8 million is no small fee, the Lewis family continues to seek justice in the form of criminal punishment for Thompson.
Lewis’ son Brook Bacon said: “This settlement is further evidence that Georgia recognizes the wrongs done to my father, Julian Lewis.
“My father deserved to survive his encounter with ex-Georgia State Patrol Jacob Gordon Thompson on August 7, 2020.
“This is another step towards accountability, but we will not rest until his killer is behind bars.”
Widow Betty Lewis added that she was “hopeful but frustrated” that Thompson was not brought to justice.
Lewis family lawyer Andrew Lampros added: “This is a classic fare evasion case.
“That’s all I think Mr. Lewis is guilty of.”
The family’s attorneys have urged officers to release video footage of the murder, which he says will strengthen the prosecution of Thompson.
He said: “Citizens should see the video evidence in this case and they will have a clear understanding of why the state of Georgia paid $4.8 million to resolve the civil suit.
“The idea that something horribly wrong happened on that dusty dirt road, and not at the hands of ex-soldier Jacob Gordon Thompson, is just unbelievable.”
Thompson’s attorney, Keith Barber, has claimed that the former soldier committed no crime and shot Lewis in self-defense.
Advertisement
