Black FedEx Driver Fired After Being Shot at and Chased by White Men While Delivering Packages in Mississippi
A Black FedEx driver, D’Monterrio Gibson, who claimed to have been shot at and chased by two White men while delivering packages in Mississippi last year, has been fired, according to Gibson and his attorney. The termination came after Gibson declined a part-time, non-courier job that FedEx offered him in mid-July.
FedEx told CNN affiliate WAPT that Gibson’s refusal to accept the job was the reason for his dismissal. However, Gibson explained that he turned down the offer due to the ongoing psychological effects he experiences from the incident, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and panic attacks. He requested if FedEx had any work from home positions available, but the company responded negatively. In a text message to CNN, Gibson expressed his disappointment and stated, “I just don’t think my healing should be linear to their timeline.”
FedEx spokesperson Meredith Miller confirmed that Gibson is no longer employed by the company but did not provide further information. When contacted by CNN, the Brookhaven Police Department, which failed to turn over a police interview video with Gibson to the prosecution or defense during the trial of Gregory and Brandon Case, the White father and son charged with the attack, did not respond to inquiries for comment.
A mistrial was declared last week in the trial of Gregory and Brandon Case after the police interview video surfaced. The two men were charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, and shooting into a motor vehicle. The prosecution has stated that they will retry the case.
Gibson recounted the harrowing incident, informing CNN that on January 24, 2022, while delivering packages in a Hertz rental van with no FedEx markings, he encountered a white pickup truck that approached him aggressively. The truck tried to cut him off, prompting Gibson to swerve and avoid getting trapped. He then saw a man in the middle of the road pointing a gun at him, instructing him to stop. Gibson refused and drove on, only to hear multiple gunshots hitting the van. The white pickup truck, now with both men inside, pursued Gibson out of Brookhaven and onto the interstate.
Gibson drew a parallel between his case and that of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was fatally shot while jogging by a White father and son in Georgia. Gibson said he feels a responsibility to speak up, as Arbery did not survive to advocate for himself. The father and son involved in Arbery’s case were sentenced to life in prison.
The day following the shooting, FedEx assigned Gibson to the same route where the incident occurred. After two days, he began experiencing anxiety and almost had a panic attack. Gibson criticized FedEx for their lack of support, stating they initially offered him two weeks of unpaid leave and asked him not to speak to the media. It was only after widespread media coverage that FedEx started offering workers’ compensation. However, Gibson claims that they only covered eight therapy sessions, leaving him to pay the rest out of pocket.
Gibson’s attorney plans to hold FedEx accountable in court for intentional infliction of emotional distress, particularly for sending Gibson back to the dangerous route the day after the attack. Attorney Moore criticized FedEx’s insensitivity and accused the company of not caring about his client’s life.