Prosecutor Says Andrew Brown Shooting Was ‘Justified’

Pasquotank County, N.C. District Lawyer Andrew Womble mentioned the sheriff’s deputies who fired at Andrew Brown Jr., killing him at his Elizabeth Metropolis house, had been justified in taking pictures, deeming that the 42-year-old man’s actions endangered officers on the scene.

Womble mentioned physique digicam footage exhibits Brown, who was unarmed, ignored the deputies instructions and proceeded to drive towards them, making the automotive a risk of their notion.

At a Tuesday morning press convention, Womble mentioned that not one of the officers can be charged in Brown’s demise.

“Mr. Brown’s demise, whereas tragic, was justified as a result of Mr. Brown’s actions induced three deputies with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Workplace  to moderately imagine it was vital to make use of lethal pressure to guard themselves and others,” mentioned Womble referring to his willpower of the probe performed by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. He later famous that the deputies’ actions had been “absolutely supported beneath the legislation.”

RELATED: What We Know So Far About The Police Shooting Of Andrew Brown

Brown was shot and killed by deputies whereas they executed a search warrant on drug fees  on April 21. Witnesses say Brown was driving away on the time and deputies fired a number of rounds, killing him.

A video released by Womble at the press conference apparently exhibits Brown trying to depart the home the place his automotive was parked and switch away from the officers whereas they yell for him to cease. Womble mentioned the primary pictures had been fired as Brown drives towards them, they proceed as he tries to drive away. He crashed right into a tree in a close-by yard after dropping management of the car. Not one of the deputies had been injured.

Legal professionals for Brown’s household expressed disappointement and frustration over the choice to not pursue fees in opposition to the officers.

“To say this taking pictures was justified, regardless of the recognized details, is each an insult and a slap within the face to Andrew’s household, the Elizabeth Metropolis neighborhood, and to rational folks in all places,” mentioned attorneys Ben Crump, Bakari Sellers, Harry Daniels, and Chantel Cherry-Lassiter in a joint assertion. “Not solely was the automotive transferring away from officers, however 4 of them didn’t hearth their weapons – clearly they didn’t really feel that their lives had been endangered. And the underside line is that Andrew was killed by a shot to the again of the top. Curiously, none of those points had been appropriately addressed in in the present day’s press convention.”

Womble mentioned that though the video was proven on the press convention, it might not be launched to the general public and mentioned that the courts must decide if that might occur. Pasquotank County Superior Courtroom Choose Jeff Foster decided last month that physique digicam video wouldn’t be publicly launched, nevertheless it may nonetheless be launched after a state investigation was full.

Seven deputies had been reportedly positioned on administrative depart. The three concerned within the taking pictures stay on depart whereas 4 others who had been on the scene had been reinstated when Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten decided that they didn’t hearth their weapons, in response to Norfolk, Va., newspaper the Virginian-Pilot.

An unbiased post-mortem decided that Brown was struck by bullets 5 instances out of the 14 pictures that had been fired together with as soon as at the back of the top. His household, which had been proven part of the video weeks in the past, has maintained that he was not a risk and that he didn’t drive his automotive towards them.

Womble, nevertheless, has mentioned in court docket that Brown drove his automotive towards the deputies and struck them twice earlier than pictures had been fired. However that doesn’t appear obvious within the video proven at Tuesday’s press convention.

Brown’s taking pictures came about within the shadow of the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis. A day prior, he had been convicted on all counts within the demise of George Floyd a yr in the past. Demonstrations by the neighborhood calling for justice for Brown continued for days after the taking pictures and his household has referred to as what came about an “execution.”

Womble mentioned on the information convention that he has not spoken with the household about his willpower. “Our unique discussions instantly after this occurred with Mr. Brown’s attorneys didn’t go nicely,” he mentioned.

A second assembly with the household was tried, however their attorneys weren’t current.

“Clearly, any occasion that’s represented by counsel I’ve to be very cautious in coping with attorneys earlier than I take care of events,” mentioned Womble. “I used to be unable to take action, and at this level the connection is simply constrained to the purpose that I didn’t communicate with them. I would be pleased to speak with them at size after that is over.