Officer Federally Charged For Planting Evidence. Re: Willie Bingham, Jr.

After two trials for manslaughter where juries hung, now retired deputy Walter Grant is not being tried by the state for killing Willie Bingham, Jr. but rather, by the federal government for planting evidence as an excuse for killing him.

It happened in Bolivar County, Mississippi, in 2013.

Deputy Walter Grant shot 20-year-old Willie Bingham Jr. in the back of the head.

Willie Bingham, Jr.

Willie was suspected of breaking into cars parked outside of an auto parts plant.  Grant and other officers pursued a car carrying Willie and others.  The car stopped, and Willie allegedly jumped out and ran into a cotton field.  Grant caught up with Willie and shot him in the back of the head.

Grant told investigators that he thought Willie had a gun.  No gun was found.  What was found was a baton, and allegations that Grant planted it.

In 2015, Grant was indicted on state manslaughter charges.  His first trial ended with a hung jury.  He was retried, and that jury also hung.  After the trials, Grant retired.

State court records show that in 2016, the judge remanded the case to Jim Hood, the State Attorney General.

The family has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Grant of planting the baton. A response by the Bolivar County sheriff’s office later said the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the attorney general’s office, while investigating the shooting,  concluded Grant planted the baton.