8 months after his death, Black man fatally struck by Mississippi police SUV receives funeral

JACKSON, Miss. — Eight months after he was fatally struck by a police vehicle, Dexter Wade finally received a proper funeral on Monday with family in attendance.

The Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy for Wade, whose body was exhumed just days ago. Officials had Wade’s body buried in a pauper’s grave without notifying his next of kin that he was killed.

The 37-year-old Black man died March 5 after he was struck by a police SUV driven by an off-duty Jackson Police Department officer as Wade was walking across Interstate 55.

Bettersten Wade Robinson, Dexter’s mother, accused officials of a “cover up.” She reported her son missing to Jackson Police Department on March 14 after not having any contact with him for nine days. Bettersten said she was not informed about Wade’s death and funeral until Aug. 24.

Jackson Police Department has not released the identity of the officer involved in the fatal collision.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing Wade’s family.

-More on the fatal collision and burial.-

Corey A. Washington

Corey A. Washington is Editor of BLK News Now! His journalism experience includes Television, Newspapers, and Digital Media as a Writer, Reporter, Content Producer, and Digital Producer. Some of those media outlets include CBS Phoenix (KPHO), NBC4 Los Angeles, ABC7 Los Angeles, California Black Media, SCNG, and more. He can be reached at Corey@BLKNewsNow.com.