THOMASVILLE — The late November case in which a Thomasville teen was fatally wounded by Tallahassee (Fla.) police will go to a grand jury in January.

John Francis Hayes, 17, South College Street, was shot by Tallahassee Police Department (TPD) officers during early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 26.

“It’s still ongoing,” a TPD spokesman said Tuesday about the investigation into the shooting. “It’s a long, arduous process.”

David McCranie, TPD acting public information officer, said attempts are under way to reach a conclusion in the shooting.

Tallahassee police responded to a church parking lot on High Road and began searching individuals in a Chevrolet Caprice.

Hayes got out of the vehicle, police said in November, but did not follow an officer’s instructions. A taser and baton were used unsuccessfully on Hayes, who returned to the Caprice.

Officers feared Hayes was reaching for a weapon and fired on him. A handgun was recovered from the vehicle.

Four officers involved are on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

Results of the investigation will be forwarded to the office of Willie Meggs, state attorney for the Second Judicial Circuit.

A new grand jury was seated Dec. 7 in the judicial circuit, said Robin Lotane, chief assistant state attorney.

A date has not been set for the grand jury to hear the case, but it probably will be mid- to late January, Lotane said.

McCranie said autopsy findings will be in information turned over to grand jurors.



Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 220.