Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Investigation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mother at Douglas County meeting urges federal review after son's killing
Summary
At the March 2 Douglas County work session, Kenya Mitchell urged county officials to seek independent and federal oversight into her son Malachi Mitchell's killing, citing two autopsies, alleged confessions and what she described as an insufficient local investigation.
Kenya Mitchell, speaking during public comment at the Douglas County Board of Commissioners' March 2 work session, said her son Malachi Mitchell was "shot execution style" and urged independent and federal review of the county's handling of the case.
"This is what injustice looks like in Douglas County," Mitchell said, recounting that two autopsy reports and a private medical autopsy showed multiple entry wounds and that a shooter's confession and an unidentified third party were not publicly addressed. Mitchell said the district attorney, Dalia Rene, ruled "zero charges, self-defense," and that county officials returned the firearm to the shooter and issued a title on the vehicle before the investigation concluded.
Mitchell said she reviewed interrogation footage, body-camera recordings and the investigative file and that the evidence raised "serious concerns and questions that deserve independent review and federal oversight, not silence." She told the board she filed a petition seeking a writ of mandamus to compel public officials to perform their duties.
The board's timekeeper interrupted Mitchell when her three-minute public-comment limit expired; commissioners and staff moved on to other agenda items after the public-comment period ended.
Why it matters: Mitchell's remarks allege flaws in an ongoing criminal investigation in Douglas County and call for higher-level oversight. The district attorney and sheriff's office did not respond during the work session. The coroner was referenced by Mitchell as having declined an inquest under "45-16-27," a citation Mitchell cited when explaining her request for further review.
What officials said: Commissioner Whitney Kenner Jones voiced empathy for Mitchell's pain and thanked deputies for maintaining decorum during the emotional exchange. The board did not take immediate action on Mitchell's request during the work session; later in the meeting the board voted unanimously to enter executive session on litigation, personnel, real estate and cybersecurity.
Next steps: Mitchell urged public pressure and named a November 2026 election when she said voters would hold officials accountable. The meeting record does not include any formal county response or a staff commitment to open a new investigation; any follow-up by the district attorney, sheriff's office or the county would need to be sought outside this work session.
