The FBI confirmed Tuesday that it would investigate the killing of Andrew Brown Jr.
What We Know:
- Brown is a black man from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, who was shot dead by police during an arrest last week. The investigation was announced just one day after attorneys for Brown’s family were allowed to watch 20 seconds of body cam footage. The 42-year-old was shot in the back of the head while he had hands-on his steering wheel. Brown’s autopsy revealed that he was shot five times in all, including four times in his right arm.
- Sheriff’s deputies shot Brown in an attempt to serve a drug-related search and arrest warrants. Seven of the deputies involved have since been placed on paid leave. A statement by the FBI claims that investigators will work closely with the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina to determine if federal laws were violated.
- The spokesperson declined to go into further details as the investigation is ongoing. Brown was killed just one day after a jury found Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin guilty of the murder of George Floyd. Attorney’s for Brown’s family are condemning his murder and also asking for more footage to be released. A request has been made to a judge that they permit the release of said video.
- Brown’s family claims the police appeared to lack justification for using deadly force based on what they were allowed to see. Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten has asked for patience while investigations continue. It isn’t clear how long the FBI’s investigation into Brown’s death will continue. The investigation will mainly look into whether federal laws were broken during the arrest.
“Pattern-or-practice” investigations probe whether police departments routinely violate civil rights laws.
