JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dozens gathered on Saturday outside the State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville, urging officials to reopen the investigation into the viral traffic stop of William McNeil Jr.
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They stood at the footsteps of the building demanding them to reopen the case and to create a public safety committee.
Organizers said they want to continue showing support for McNeil and his family as they go through the legal process now that its been almost two weeks since the video went viral.
It’s a moment that McNeil’s uncle said will stick with his nephew forever.
“I want to say this to everybody that’s out there listening,” Anthony James said. “My nephew will never ever be the same. Physically or mentally. It has been destroyed.”
Here’s a timeline of events so far:
- Feb. 19: McNeil was stopped for not having his headlights and his seatbelt on.
- June 20: The cellphone video from the middle of that stop is posted online. That same day, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it’s looking into it.
- June 21: The next day, JSO shared body camera video showing the entire encounter and announced no criminal charges will be filed against the officers, but that an internal investigation into any policy violations continues.
- June 29: McNeil’s attorneys hosted a press conference focusing on an image in the body camera video that appears to show an officer pull his gun during the incident and said they anticipate filing a lawsuit against the sheriff’s office. That same day, JSO said it will no longer comment on the case due to the pending litigation.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said they have 180 days to complete the investigation, which would mean the results would be out by at least January 2026. The sheriff said it will be shared when it is available.
Organizers said they have a petition and plan to gather again next week.