Jacob Griffin's mother's regret: 'Had I not called for help, my son would be alive' | Letter

Karen B. Griffin
·2 min read
Friends and family come together for a vigil to honor Jacob Griffin Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Brentwood, Tenn. Jacob Alexander Griffin, who suffered from schizophrenia, died after a long and tense standoff with the Nashville police department's SWAT team. Police spokesman Don Aaron said an officer shot the 23-year-old after Griffin fired his gun twice.

A letter to Metro Nashville Police Department Chief John Drake.

As you celebrated the holidays with your family in 2021, know that my family suffered through the first Christmas in 24 years without my dear, sweet, son, Jacob.

He’s dead because your department was called to help him and instead, your officers spent hours shouting commands at a confused, homeless, schizophrenic man, and then shot and killed him because he failed to comply. There was no crime in progress.

He was a threat to no one but himself when your officers appeared on the scene. Your ineffective, antiquated department policies and the fumbling, bumbling trained killers deployed at the scene, apparently had no choice when faced with one homeless man, but to gun him down?

Karen Griffin holds a portrait of her son Jacob Alexander Griffin at her home Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Brentwood, Tenn. Jacob Alexander Griffin, who suffered from schizophrenia, died Saturday night after a long and tense standoff with the Nashville police department's SWAT team. Police spokesman Don Aaron said an officer shot the 23-year-old after Griffin fired his gun twice.

An officer fired a high powered rifle bullet through his young body, piercing his heart and lungs, destroying him, killing him. Jacob should be alive and receiving treatment. Instead, I am forced to be on this planet for decades without my first born child, my beloved son, because I asked for your help.

More: Response to grieving mother about her son's death by Nashville police | Letter

More: Autopsy: Unclear whether Nashville police fired fatal shot during homeless camp standoff

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Ask yourself why this had to happen and if you come up with an answer, call me, because I ask myself that question every day.

Jacob Griffin
Jacob Griffin

You had no right to take him from me. And you know it. And I will have to live with having called you for help, an action I will regret until my last breath. Had I not called for help, my son would be alive.

May the horror and shame of killing my child haunt you forever and a day.

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Karen B. Griffin of Brentwood is the mother of Jacob Griffin, who was shot and killed by MNPD on May 1, 2021.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: A mother's regret: 'Had I not called for help, my son would be alive'