Chavis Carter, a 21-year-old Mississippi man, was found shot to death on Saturday in the back of a Jonesboro Police Department squad car after he was arrested in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The reason for his arrest? Marijuana possession.

According to reports, Carter missed a court date in Mississippi and had a warrant out for his arrest when cops cuffed and seated him in the back of a squad car, after they searched him. Then, while the police had their backs turned, they say they heard some thumping and when they got to the car, they found Carter shot to death. The cops said he shot himself.

Obvious questions abound: where did the gun come from if they searched him? How did he get to it and shoot himself while handcuffed? Why would he kill himself after being arrested on a relatively minor charge? The questions mount, but their are no good answers forthcoming.

“I think they killed him,” said Chavis’ mother, Teresa. “I mean, my son wasn’t suicidal,” she said.

“I just want to know what really happened. That’s all I want to know,” she said.

Would anyone be surprised if we were not getting the full story here?

- Joe Klare