U.S. Supreme Court rejects Tupelo wrongful death lawsuit

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The U.S. Supreme Court said it will not take up a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a Tupelo man shot by a Tupelo policeman.

Ronnie Shumpert died in June of 2016 after he fled from a traffic stop.

Officer Tyler Cook shot Shumpert when he found him hiding under a house in the Lee Acres Neighborhood.  Cook said he fired after Shumpert attacked him.

The dead man’s family was seeking $35 million because they claimed a police dog attacked Shumpert and subdued him, making the shooting unnecessary.

The case was listed in a Tuesday memo from the High Court outlining which cases would be considered this session.