Social Justice
Black man shot by Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy after calling 911 for help
A Black man was shot multiple times by a Virginia sheriff’s deputy after the deputy gave him a ride home, left and then was called back to the man’s home for help.
Isiah Brown was shot multiple times by a Virginia sheriff’s deputy after the deputy gave him a ride home, left and then was called back to the man’s home for help, reports NBC Washington.
Brown, 32, was in intensive care with 10 bullet wounds after being shot outside his home in Spotsylvania County early Wednesday (April 21), his family says.
His family told a local news station they have no idea why the deputy opened fired at their loved one.
“The officer just started shooting at him for no reason. I didn’t hear a warning shot. All I heard was ‘Hands up!’ one time. And all he had was his phone, so I know he put his hands up,” Isaiah Brown’s brother, Tazmon Brown, said.
1. Interaction With Deputy Stemmed Over 911 Call For Help
Authorities and Brown’s siblings say Brown’s interactions with the deputy began when Brown’s car broke down at about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at a gas station on Route 3, several miles from his home. The deputy, who is white, gave Brown, who is Black, a ride home.
Press Release pic.twitter.com/8SPp18e0ko
— Spotsylvania Sheriff (@SpotsySheriff) April 21, 2021
Brown’s brother talked with the deputy when they arrived.
“He was like, ‘Your brother is fine. He’s not in trouble. His car broke down and I gave him a ride,” he said.
Not long after the deputy left, Isaiah Brown called 911.
“Domestic situation”
The sheriff’s office categorized the call as a domestic situation between Isaiah Brown and a family member. A source within the county sheriff’s office told the news station he was complaining about his brother.
Tazmon Brown said he believes his brother just wanted a ride back to his car because he was worried it might get towed.
The same deputy who helped Isaiah Brown earlier returned.
According to reports, Brown then told the 911 dispatcher he is going to kill his brother.
“I’m about to kill my brother,” he says.
Within minutes of the Deputy responding to Brown’s homr, he opened fire.
Isaiah Brown’s siblings said the deputy started shooting for no reason.
“I’m just still trying to figure out where he felt the threat at, to feel the need to shoot,” Yolanda Brown, his sister, said.
The deputy then began CPR.
The family says Isaiah Brown was in surgery and was wounded in the face, neck, chest and pelvic area.
He was unarmed, state police confirmed.
2. Footage of Isiah Brown police shooting released
Body camera video of the Isiah Brown police shooting incident was released a few days later.
Initially, authorities said they would not release body camera video. That was until Spotsylvania Branch of the NAACP got involved and was able to arrange for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office to release the bodycam footage.
In the video, which you can view by clicking here, the deputy shouts orders at Brown.
“Show me your hands,” he shouted. “Show me your hands. Show me your hands, now. Show me your hands. Drop the gun. He’s got a gun to his head. Drop the gun now. Stop walking towards me. Stop walking towards me. Stop. Stop.”
Then shots were fired. The deputy began CPR.
After the video was released, the family attorney for Brown released a statement, saying:
“Isaiah clearly told dispatch that he did not have a weapon more than 90 seconds before the deputy arrived … The deputy was situated nearly 50 feet from Isaiah, was never threatened and should not have discharged his weapon.”
3. Investigation
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the shooting.
4. Isiah Brown Released From Hospital
Brown was discharged from the hospital nearly two months after the shooting and will continue his rehabilitation at home, according to his attorney David Haynes of The Cochran Firm.
5. Officer Indicted
A grand jury has indicted the Virginia sheriff’s deputy in connection with the April shooting of Isiah Brown, according to a special prosecutor for the case.
Spotsylvania County Deputy David Turbyfill had been indicted on a felony charge of “reckless handling of a firearm resulting in serious injury.”
The deputy remains on administrative leave.
In a statement, Haynes said Brown and his family were “pleased” with the indictment.
“The shooting resulted in significant injuries to Mr. Brown which will undoubtedly impact him for the rest of his life,” Brown’s famil attorney David Haynes said.
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