Graphic: MGN Online

“It hurts because he had just celebrated his birthday. I want the officer to be brought up on charges because this was not necessary,” said his stepmother Cayshon Collins to The Final Call. “His murder has taken a lot out of this family and out of this community. We want justice.”

On that day over five months ago, then-Officer Scott Nugent sent electrical impulses into the body of Mr. Pike nine times with a Taser after arresting him on a cocaine charge. According to the coroner’s report, Mr. Pike stopped trembling after the seventh shock and died.

Mr. Nugent, who is White and no longer on the force, could face criminal charges in the Pike death due largely to a medical examiner ruling it a homicide. Three other officers were on the scene.

Dr. Randolph Williams, the town’s coroner, revealed that Mr. Pike was hit so many times by the Taser that he might have been dead before the last two shocks were administered. His final ruling came in June, which left some asking why it took so long.

“He (Williams) told us he wanted to do a thorough and extensive study,” said Mrs. Collins. “He went to other coroners and asked their insight to see if they would come out with the same conclusion. This was a homicide. They killed my son.”

“It’s taken several months for this case to even be properly addressed, so one has to wonder, why did it take so long?” said Carol Powell Lexing, an attorney for the Pikes. “Obviously, a wrongful death occurred. The family wants justice.”

Attorney Lexing was recently apart of the legal group that represented Mychal Bell of the “Jena Six” and Mr. Pikes just happens to be Mr. Bell’s first cousin. Winnfield is nearly 50 miles away from the town of Jena, the site of high racial tension. Is Winnfield next? The Pikes’ family has already led a small demonstration on city hall. According to Mrs. Collins, “We are not done.”

“It’s a travesty what has been done. This was 100 percent avoidable and 100 percent murder,” said radio show host Tony Brown. “We hope these officers will be indicted.”

Mr. Brown was one of the first to reach out to the family and disseminate the story to local and national media. “There are so many injustices like this and the Jena Six taking place in small rural towns. But most of them are overlooked and unreported.”

Winn Parish District Attorney Christopher Nevils has delayed his decision on any charges against Mr. Nugent until a Louisiana state police report on the case is done.

According to the coroner, Officer Nugent used his Taser on Mr. Pikes at least six times in less than three minutes. Next, officers put Mr. Pikes in the back of the car and drove him to the police station. At that point, Officer Nugent is said to have fired a seventh shot at Mr. Pikes’ chest.

“After he was given that stun to the chest, he was pulled out of the car onto the concrete,” Dr. Williams said. “He was electroshocked two more times, which two officers noted that he had no neuromuscular response to those last two 50,000-volt electroshocks. It’s possible Nugent was shocking a dead man the last two times he pulled the trigger.”

Mr. Nugent’s legal counsel, Phillip Terrell, argues that his client followed proper procedures. “He’s fighting, wrestling with an individual who weighs 100 pounds more than him. His partner had just come back to the police department from triple bypass surgery and could not assist Officer Nugent,” said Atty. Terrell.

“This has come down to a police officer that was trying to apprehend a suspect that they had warrants for,” said Lt. Chuck Curry on a CNN news broadcast. “He done what he thought he was trained to do to bring that subject into custody. At some point, something happened with his body that caused him to go into cardiac arrest or whatever.”

Police officials stated that Mr. Pikes was wanted on a charge of possession of cocaine when they tried to arrest him outside a shopping center. “He would not stop for the officer,” Lt. Curry added. “At some point in there, he was Tased to bring him under control, and several hours later, died at the emergency room.”

According to police records, Winnfield police received Tasers in 2007. Over the last year, the Tasers have been used 14 times, with 12 of the instances involving Black suspects. Ten of the 14 incidents involved Mr. Nugent.

Following Mr. Pike’s death, Mr. Nugent was suspended and in May the Winnfield City Council voted 3-2 to terminate him. He is appealing his dismissal and attempting to rejoin the force. The appeal is in recess until August 18.

Lt. Curry also said the company that manufactures the devices, Taser International, indicates that “multiple Tasings do not affect a person.”

“This case may be the most unnecessary death I have ever had to investigate,” Dr. Williams said. “He (Pikes) put up no fuss, no fighting, no physical aggression.” “A lot happens in this town, and it just gets swept under the rug,” said Mrs. Collins to The Final Call.