He was having a mental health crisis. Memphis task force agents came and shot him
Jonah Neal, 25, was struck by a Homeland Security Investigations agent in May. There have been at least four deadly shootings related to the task force. (Image credit: Luke Sharrett for NPR)
Jonah Neal, 25, was struck by a Homeland Security Investigations agent in May. There have been at least four deadly shootings related to the task force.
(Image credit: Luke Sharrett for NPR)
Cindy Leachman Aldridge holds a photo of her late grandson, Jonah Neal, at her home on July 12 in Owensboro, Ky. Jonah Neal was killed in May in Memphis, Tenn., by a federal agent with the Memphis Safe Task Force. Luke Sharrett for NPR hide caption
Warning: This story contains mention of suicide and mental illness. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The night that her son was having a mental breakdown, Jessica Neal called 911, hoping to save his life.
Jonah Neal, 25, had a handgun and was threatening suicide. Instead of local police, federal agents arrived at her doorstep. Within minutes of entering her home, a special agent had shot her son, Neal said. It would be hours before she found out her son was dead, she added.
Houston neighbors started seeing more ICE agents around. Then came a fatal shooting.
The agent was with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which operates under Immigration and Customs Enforcement. HSI was sent to Memphis as part of a crime-fighting task force composed of roughly 350 federal agents and 1,450 members of the Tennessee National Guard, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. It began last fall at the direction of President Trump and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.