Mother sues Mobile police after 16-year-old shot in no-knock raid
- A civil rights lawsuit was filed by Randall Adjessom's mother claiming he was shot while raising his hands in surrender after police broke into their home.
- The no-knock raid was conducted as part of an investigation into marijuana sales linked to Adjessom's older brother, who did not live at the residence.
- This tragic incident underscores the controversy surrounding no-knock warrants and the need for police reform to prevent similar occurrences.
In Mobile, Alabama, on November 13, 2023, a Mobile SWAT team executed a no-knock search warrant targeting Randall Adjessom's older brother for suspected marijuana sales. The raid occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m., with the police using a battering ram to breach the family's front door while Adjessom was asleep in his room. Upon hearing the commotion, the 16-year-old emerged holding a firearm but quickly raised his hands in surrender upon realizing the intruders were police officers. Despite his compliance, a Mobile Police Department SWAT officer shot Randall four times in a matter of seconds. After being shot, he reportedly suffered for several minutes before receiving any medical assistance, and ultimately died approximately 50 minutes after the incident. The family had been unaware of the severity of the situation for hours. The tragic event has raised serious concerns regarding the use of no-knock warrants, police conduct, and the overall culture of excessive force within the Mobile Police Department, which has previously faced scrutiny due to similar issues. Randall's death adds to increasing calls for police reform and has reignited discussions around the sanctity of life during police operations, as well as whether these high-risk tactics are justified in non-threatening scenarios. The ongoing legal battle surrounding the case will likely shed light on these issues, particularly given that the search warrant was supposedly directed at a suspect who did not reside at the location where the raid took place.