Mother of New Haven native killed in the line of duty in Minneapolis: ‘He’s my hero’

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The New Haven community is getting ready to say a final farewell to Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, who was killed in the line of duty two weeks ago.

“He’s my hero,” Janet Raper-Edwards said, holding a photo of her son. “He’s my hero. He’s my baby. I’m going to miss him.”

Jamal was killed in the line of duty on May 30. He joined the force less than two years ago.

“You could see it all in his face,” Raper-Edwards said. “He loved what he was doing and was proud of what he was doing.”

Raper-Edwards and her mother, Lillie Raper, shared with News 8 that Mitchell loved his community, was devoted to his family and his faith, and would do anything for anyone, always with a smile.

“His life spoke for him,” Raper said of his grandson. “When you met him, he made such an impression. He told you exactly who he was.”

“When I hear the stories of how the officers were sharing Jamal, how he was with the community, I was a proud mama,” Raper-Edwards said.

He grew up on Lombard Street in New Haven, attending the city’s public schools and the church his great-grandmother founded on Shelton Avenue.

This was home for much of his life and where he’ll be laid to rest on Monday.

“I was so proud to say that’s my son,” Raper-Edwards said. “Does it hurt? Absolutely. It hurts to know I won’t see him on this earth, but I’ll see him again up there.”

Mitchell’s sister described him as the peacekeeper among his six siblings. He was also a father of four with the love of his life, Tory.

“I’m proud of Jamal,” his mother said. “I’m proud of the dad he is. How he just loves his babies.”

During this dark time, there’s light in knowing the impact Mitchell made.

“Well done, Jamal. That’s what I say,” she said. “Job well done, son. We’ll see you soon. See you later.”

On Monday, the procession will leave the McClam Funeral Home, located at 95 Dixwell Ave., at 8:15 a.m., and the route will proceed on Webster Street to Goffe Street, then the Floyd Little Athletic Center at Hillhouse High School on Crescent Street.

Visiting hours will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The funeral is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Following the funeral, the procession will proceed on Crescent Street to the E.T. Grasso Boulevard and enter the Evergreen Cemetery for a private burial.