In Mobile, Alabama, heartbreak and anger are colliding as the mother of a 16-year-old boy, shot by SWAT police during a no-knock raid, is seeking justice. Akouvi Adjessom has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Mobile Police Department and the city, claiming her son, Randall, was “killed in cold blood.”
Randall Adjessom, just 16 years old, was fast asleep in his family home on November 13, 2023, when the SWAT team stormed in around 5:30 a.m. The early morning raid, shrouded in darkness, was part of an investigation into Randall’s older brother, who wasn’t even at the house—or living there. The police were looking into allegations of marijuana possession and distribution.
The complaint says the raid unfolded like a nightmare. SWAT officers, called in due to understaffing in the narcotics unit, smashed through the door with a battering ram. Randall, startled awake, grabbed a gun for protection. According to the lawsuit, he initially pointed it at the officers, but quickly realized they were police. He reportedly retreated with his hands up. Tragically, within 11 seconds of entering the home, an officer shot Randall four times.
The lawsuit also highlights delays in providing medical care. Although the nearest emergency room was just an eight-minute drive away, Randall didn’t get there until 50 minutes after the shooting. Family members in the house—Randall’s mom, grandmother, aunt, and three sisters—were left in the living room for hours, unaware that Randall had been shot.
“They’re supposed to be peace officers, aren’t they?” Akouvi said in a statement on Monday. “How many more young Black boys like Randall have to die before something changes? The culture of unchecked police brutality in Mobile has to end.”
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, names the city and the unidentified officers involved. It seeks damages for the loss of Randall’s life. When asked for comment, both the city attorney and the Mobile Police Department remained silent.
The Controversy Over No-Knock Warrants
No-knock warrants allow police to enter a home unannounced. They’ve faced growing criticism, especially after the tragic 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. That case sparked nationwide protests over racial injustice in policing.
In response to incidents like these, the U.S. Justice Department tightened rules in 2021, requiring extra approval for such warrants. However, Mobile’s city council recently rejected an ordinance to ban no-knock warrants altogether.
What Went Wrong?
A report released in May, following an investigation into the Mobile Police Department, painted a troubling picture. It found that while the officer who shot Randall followed the city’s use-of-force policy, the decision to execute the pre-dawn raid didn’t prioritize “the sanctity of life.”
The report also noted that officers seemed to assume the family was dangerous, despite no evidence of violent histories. The investigation criticized the police department’s frequent misconduct, including unconstitutional detentions, illegal phone searches, and excessive force.
Even with these findings, the report stopped short of recommending federal oversight, suggesting local reforms instead.
A Community Demands Justice
Randall’s death is one of several high-profile police killings that have rocked Mobile in recent years, fueling calls for accountability. But change has been slow.
Akouvi’s lawsuit is more than a fight for her son—it’s a plea for a safer future. Her words echo the pain of many families who’ve lost loved ones in similar circumstances.
For now, the question remains: How many more tragedies will it take before true reform becomes a reality?
