JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Two Capitol police officers were indicted on manslaughter charges in connection to the death of Jaylen Lewis.

A Hinds County grand jury indicted Steven Frederick, Jr., and Michael Rhinewalt in March 2025. Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Winston Kidd set Rhinewalt’s bond at $100,000.

Lewis died after a shooting incident involving Capitol police on September 25, 2022. The indictment stated that Frederick and Rhinewalt “did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously, without malice, without authority of law and not in necessary self-defense, shoot and kill” Lewis.

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), Frederick resigned in March 2023 shortly after being involved in a traffic accident while off duty. They said Rhinewalt has been on administrative leave without pay and has not been actively employed with the agency since January 2025.

To further strengthen accountability, MDPS has established an Internal Affairs Division that operates independently of other agencies within MDPS and reports directly to Commissioner Tindell. This division includes dedicated investigators tasked with independently handling complaints of officer misconduct. In additional, Capitol Police officers now wear body cameras and additional policies have been instituted to ensure greater professionalism and accountability. Anyone wishing to file a complaint can do so at our website (www.dps.ms.gov).
Baily Martin, Press Secretary for Mississippi DPS

Rhinewalt was previously indicted, along with Jeffrey Walker, on two counts each of aggravated assault. The two were accused of using excessive force after a traffic stop on August 14, 2022, in Jackson.

In 2023, Attorney Carlos Moore said Sherita Harris was in a vehicle that was stopped for running a red light near I-55 over near Fortification Street. Soon afterwards, a chase ensued, and Harris suffered a gunshot wound to the head. According to Moore’s investigation, he believes Rhinewalt shot Harris in the head.