Zellars-Jemison v. Craig et al

On January 13, 2026, Trayvon Zellars-Jemison, a 25-year-old African American man, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Brookhaven, Georgia. Officers Michael Craig and Daniel Harris pulled him over for a broken taillight. Body camera footage showed a rapidly escalating confrontation in which Zellars-Jemison, unarmed, was ordered out of the vehicle and, while complying with hands raised, was shot six times by Officer Craig. The officers claimed they believed he was reaching for a weapon, though no weapon was found. The estate filed a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force, violation of Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, wrongful death, and municipal liability for failure to train. The case drew national attention amid renewed protests over police violence against Black citizens.

The District Court denied qualified immunity for Officer Craig, allowing the excessive force claim to proceed. The City of Brookhaven settled the municipal liability claims for $8.5 million in September 2026. Officer Craig later entered a plea to federal civil rights charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Officer Harris was acquitted in the criminal trial but found liable in the civil suit for failure to intervene.

Whether the officers used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment; whether qualified immunity shields the officers from liability; and whether the city’s training policies demonstrated deliberate indifference to constitutional rights.

The case intensified national debate on qualified immunity and police reform. It catalyzed Georgia legislation mandating stricter use-of-force policies and independent investigations of officer-involved fatalities. Protests led by the Zellars-Jemison family galvanized the “Justice for Trayvon” movement, influencing body camera legislation in multiple states.