Lawyer: Autopsy finds Jonathan Sanders was strangled in police encounter

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — An attorney for the family of Jonathan Sanders says he died from strangulation.

Jul 17, 2015

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — An attorney for the family of Jonathan Sanders says he died from strangulation.

Chokwe Antar Lumumba tells The Associated Press he was present when law enforcement agencies briefed Sanders family members on Tuesday. Lumumba won’t say what agencies briefed the family, but the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been leading the inquiry, assisted by the FBI.

MBI Spokesman Warren Strain says the agency doesn’t discuss ongoing investigations.

Sanders, who was black, died July 8 following a physical encounter with Stonewall Police Officer Kevin Herrington, who is white. Sanders was driving a horse and buggy in the town before he died. Lumumba says relatives believe Herrington is at fault. The autopsy finding doesn’t necessarily mean Herrington committed a crime.

Authorities haven’t yet criminally charged Herrington.

Sanders’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday.