MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed by the mother of a 16-year-old boy who was killed by SWAT officers during a no-knock raid in Alabama. The suit names the involved police officers and the city of Mobile, claiming that the teenager was “killed in cold blood.”
On November 13, 2023, Randall Adjessom, who was asleep in his home, became the victim when SWAT officers kicked down his door at approximately 5:30 a.m., as the night still covered the area. At that time, his family, including his mother, aunt, grandmother, and three younger sisters—two of whom were minors—were present. The raid was conducted as part of an investigation targeting Adjessom’s older brother related to marijuana possession and distribution. Importantly, the younger Adjessom was not under suspicion and his brother was neither present nor a resident at the home.
The Mobile Police Department allegedly called in SWAT officers due to a lack of personnel in their narcotics unit. According to the complaint, Adjessom came out of his room holding a gun, but when he understood that he was face-to-face with law enforcement, he withdrew with his hands raised.
Despite this retreat, an unnamed officer shot Adjessom four times in less than 12 seconds after entering the residence. The lawsuit claims that law enforcement did not render timely medical care to the teenager, who reached the nearest emergency room—just eight minutes away—50 minutes after being shot.
Family members, who remained in the living room for hours, were not informed of Adjessom’s critical condition until long after the incident, according to the suit. Akouvi Adjessom, the boy’s mother, expressed her distress in a statement, questioning the nature of law enforcement’s duty and lamenting the ongoing violence against young Black males at the hands of police, particularly highlighting the Mobile Police Department’s alleged culture of excessive force.
The lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Mobile and seeks unspecified damages from the city and unnamed officers. Responses from the city attorney and police department spokesperson to requests for comment were not immediate.
No-knock warrants, which enable police to enter a residence without prior announcement, have faced a wave of criticism following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor by Louisville officers in March 2020, which ignited widespread protests focused on racial injustice in policing. In response, the Department of Justice revised its policies in 2021 to restrict the use of such warrants, mandating approval from federal prosecutors and a supervisory law enforcement agent.
Attorneys representing Adjessom’s mother characterized the youth’s death as a “foreseeable and preventable tragedy,” emphasizing the need for accountability. Randall was among four significant police killings that provoked public outrage in Mobile, resulting in an inquiry into the Mobile Police Department by former federal prosecutor Kenyen Brown, at the request of Mayor Sandy Stimpson. This investigation produced a detailed report published in May, focusing on interviews, departmental policies, and body-camera footage surrounding the incident.
The investigation determined that the officer involved in the shooting followed department protocols, arguing that Adjessom’s armed confrontation posed a threat. Nevertheless, the findings indicated that the decision to execute a search warrant in the early morning hours was made without adequately considering the “sanctity of life.” Moreover, the report noted a bias among the officers, highlighting a “preconceived notion” that those in the home were dangerous, despite no evidence suggesting any violent backgrounds among them—the only felony related to the target was marijuana possession.
Furthermore, the report pointed out a pattern of misconduct by city officers, including constitutional violations such as excessive force against suspects and unconstitutional detentions without probable cause. However, it ultimately refrained from recommending a federal investigation, asserting that local law enforcement expressed willingness to undertake their own reforms. A proposed ban on no-knock warrants was unsuccessful in passing through the Mobile city council earlier this year.
