Jacksonville: Prosecutor Says Force Against Black Student 'Justified'

Prosecutors in Jacksonville, Florida, have deemed the use of force by a sheriff's deputy against a 22-year-old black student, Will McNeil Jr., as 'justified'. The incident occurred in July 2025.

The incident, which was captured on video and sparked international outrage, shows officers breaking McNeil's car window and striking him. D. Bowers, the sheriff's deputy involved, will not face charges.

According to prosecutors, Bowers stopped McNeil for not having his headlights on and not wearing a seatbelt, near a house he was monitoring for drug activity. McNeil's lawyers have announced they will ask the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the incident.

McNeil's lawyers claim their client lost a tooth, needed stitches in his mouth, suffered a concussion, and is experiencing memory problems. 2024 was recorded as the deadliest year for police violence in the U.S.

According to the independent initiative Mapping Police Violence, 1,365 people died from police shootings or interventions in 2024, with black people being more than twice as likely to be targeted compared to white people.