Mother awaits answers from Southaven PD after officer points stun gun at her son
Nov 11, 2024
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A mother is still waiting for answers after she claims a Southaven Police Officer pointed his stun gun at her nine-year-old son after mistaking him for a robbery suspect.
WREG reported the alleged incident and trauma the mom said it caused her child on Friday.
Since then, neither WREG nor the child's mother has received an explanation from the police.
"I definitely want accountability but I also want this to be something to learn from," Shaquita Anderson-Wade said.
Anderson-Wade said she's still angry and confused after a police officer pointed his stun gun at her son Ahmar.
The incident happened the night of November 7 at the Civic Center Apartments.
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According to Anderson-Wade, Southaven Police were in the area looking for a robbery suspect when the officer in question came speeding through the complex's parking lot.
"I was very surprised (with) what was going on because I actually moved out of the police officer's way thinking he was going to someone else's home," Anderson-Wade said.
She believes the officer may have mistaken her son for the suspect after he slammed on his brakes and exited his patrol car.
"My son is halfway up the stairs and the police officer stops in the middle of the road, runs right past me," Anderson-Wade said. "I step back and he stops at the bottom of the stairs, pointing the stun gun at my child."
She said she shouted at the officer to stop, fearing for her son's safety.
His response was something she'd never expected.
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"I'm saying, 'Sir, he's a nine-year-old boy. He's my son." Anderson-Wade said. "His response is, 'You need to teach him when he sees the police not to run."
The officer left but Ahmar said the emotional damage was already done.
"I turned around and started shaking - like not moving," he said. "My mom told me to come over to her and we hugged for a little while."
Ahmar, who loves playing football, is still traumatized but has received a lot of support from friends and strangers alike.
WREG is filing an open records request for the incident report and any body cam footage that might confirm what really happened.