Officer accused of police brutality of high school athlete fired

Therese Apel | Mississippi Clarion Ledger

Show Caption Hide Caption Jackson police officer fired for misconduct A Jackson Police Department press conference on officer misconduct. Officer Vincent Lampkin was terminated.

A Jackson police officer has been fired following an investigation into allegations of misconduct, interim Police Chief Anthony Moore said Wednesday.

Vincent Lampkin had been on administrative leave during an internal affairs investigation into allegations he abused Jackson student-athlete John Knight III, 19, during a traffic stop May 14.

Knight told local media at the time that he was pulled over by a JPD officer his father identified as Lampkin.

Knight said Lampkin pulled him out of his car, assaulted and handcuffed him on I-55 frontage road near Olive Garden in north Jackson.

He said the officer never told him what he pulled him over for and eventually unlatched the handcuffs and let him go without charges.

Police confirmed that Knight was never charged or brought to JPD headquarters.

In a very brief press conference Wednesday evening, Moore said Lampkin had been terminated as a result of an "extensive investigation of the use of excessive force."

"The city of Jackson has taken appropriate actions to ensure the just treatment and safety of all of our residents," Moore said. "Under no circumstances would the city of Jackson tolerate excessive force or knowingly allow acts of injustice against the city of Jackson."

Original story: JPD investigating alleged police brutality of high school athlete standout

Moore went on to ask citizens to remember how hard his officers work, and asked them not to judge the entire department by "one bad actor."

The interim chief did not take questions after the press conference, so it is unclear if Lampkin will be charged or if any further action will be taken.

Knight, a former standout basketball player at Callaway High School, signed to play ball with Utah State on May 8.

JPD lacks the funding to use body cameras or dash cameras in its patrol cars, which could have recorded the incident.

Related: Jackson pushing for body cams but funding an issue