Nationwide — Julian Bailey, an African American man from Washington, DC, was shot and killed by U.S. Marshals during a traffic stop, leaving his family devastated and demanding answers. His loved ones say official accounts of the shooting do not match what they believe happened.
Officers were called on Feb. 11 to a report about someone threatening others with a gun. The Metropolitan Police Department said U.S. Marshals later found Bailey and shot him at the scene. He died there, according to DC News Now.
Bailey’s family says the details around the shooting are confusing and possibly misleading. Their attorney, Andrew Clarke, said key facts have not been shared. “What we don’t know is how this happened. Here we have changing stories, missing information. This is not what we are expecting from policing in our community,” Clarke said.
Bailey’s wife, Trenise Wells-Bailey spoke about her husband as a present, loving dad. She said he would FaceTime their children each morning before school. “Every morning before I got them to school, he would FaceTime us,” she said. “I’m never going to forget him, and I’m never not going to love him. I worry for my girls, I worry for Sean and Jailen because I know what it feels like to lose a parent.”
Friends, family, and supporters gathered in Northeast D.C. to remember Bailey, lighting candles, singing, and releasing balloons in his honor. His son, Jailen Cornish, described his dad as funny, loving, and unforgettable. Wells‑Bailey said Julian was “strong on respect and love.”
The investigation is still ongoing. The Metropolitan Police Department said it is handling the case but referred questions to the U.S. Marshals Service, which has not provided further comments. The family continues to call for transparency and a full explanation of what happened.