Andrew Brown Jr. was unarmed and fleeing when fatally shot by North Carolina police, family says

Andrew Brown Jr , a Black man who was fatally shot by North Carolina police was unarmed, his family attorney says.

Brown Jr, 42, was shot and killed in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on April 21 when authorities attempted to serve an arrest warrant.

Harry Daniels, the Brown family’s attorney, says witness accounts paint a picture of an “unlawful, unjustified killing” in which multiple law enforcement officers shot as Brown fled the scene in a vehicle.

“To my understanding, there is body camera footage to this incident, and it has not been released. A lot of speculation is going on — we’re asking for answers, accountability and transparency,” Daniels said.

What Happened To Andrew Brown?

Police tried to execute a search warrant

The deputies were serving an arrest warrant for felony drug charges at Brown’s rental home when Andrew Brown Jr. was fatally shot, according to Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office.

According to a witness, Brown was trying to drive away when the shooting happened.

Authorities said officers from another agency and the local version of a SWAT team were involved because “Mr. Brown was a convicted felon with a history of resisting arrest.”

The circumstances led police to believe there was a “high risk of danger” according to their training, authorities said.

Demetria Williams, Brown’s neighbor, told the Associated Press she ran outside after hearing a gunshot and then saw the deputy firing multiple times at Brown. She also said the car skidded from Brown’s yard and hit a tree.

“When they opened the door, he was already dead,” Williams said. “He was slumped over.” She said officers attempted chest compressions on Brown.

Authorities removed a car from the scene that appeared to have multiple bullet holes and a broken rear windshield, the Associated Press reported.

Andrew Brown Police Shooting Video Footage

Initially, authorities did not release body cam video of the incident.

In North Carolina, a judge generally has to approve release of police video. Daniels told USA Today he will file a motion Friday (April 23) for the footage to be released.

The family was finally able to see a 20 second blurred version of the video, but the Brown’s family said that wasn’t enough.

Based on what they were allowed to see already, Brown’s family has said the police appeared to lack a justification for using deadly force.

“There was no time in the 20 seconds that we saw where he was threatening the officers in any kind of way,” Chantel Cherry-Lassiter, an attorney, said at a press conference after watching the video, the Associated Press reported.

Pasquotank County Attorney R. Michael Cox released a statement shortly after the family attorneys’ press conference.

He says the blurring of faces “when necessary to protect an active internal investigation” is a statute under North Carolina law, according to WAVY.

Andrew Brown’s Autopsy

Brown Jr’s death certificate obtained by CNN, says his death was a result of “penetrating gunshot wound of the head” and died within “minutes” of being shot.

The certificate categorizes his death as a homicide, saying Brown was “shot by others.”

Independent autopsy

An independent autopsy of Andrew Brown says he was shot once in the back of the head, the family said.

Brown was shot five times in all, including four times in his right arm.

Deputies have resigned and seven are on leave

Three deputies have resigned and seven are on leave after an emergency radio traffic of the incident said Brown was shot in the back.

The Pasquotank County deputy involved in the shooting is on administrative leave.

The names of the deputies have not been released.

No Charges Against Deputies

Elizabeth City, North Carolina, District Attorney Andrew Womble said at a news conference that the three deputies who opened fire on Brown, a father of seven, were justified in their use of deadly force because Brown drove his vehicle toward them and allegedly made contact with one deputy twice before officers fired their weapons.

Investigation And FBI Probe

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe into the shooting, officials said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that it also will investigate the killing of Andrew Brown Jr.

Family Files $30M Lawsuit

In the latest update to the case, Andrew Brown’s family filed a $30M civil rights lawsuit in July.

The lawsuit in North Carolina was filed in a U.S. District Court by Brown’s paternal aunt, Lillie Brown Clark, who is the administrator for his estate.

The suit says the 42-year-old Brown was the father of seven children.

Defendants include Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten II and several deputies. Maj. Aaron Wallio told The Associated Press in an email that Wooten’s office “has no comments on the lawsuit.”