An attorney representing the family of Andrew Brown Jr. confirmed their plans to file a federal lawsuit on Thursday (May 20). The local district attorney announced earlier this week that no criminal charges would be brought against the officers involved in Brown’s killing.
Brown was fatally shot in April by police in Elizabeth City, North Carolina who were attempting to execute a warrant for his arrest. In the days and weeks following his killing, city officials did not permit Brown’s family members to view the more than two hours of body camera footage of their loved one’s death. Only after protests and demands were they permitted to view a 20-second clip of the footage.
Harry Daniels, one of the attorneys representing the Brown family, told CBS News that they plan on filing the federal lawsuit that alleges Brown rights were deprived “under color of state law.”
Daniels told the outlet that he wants the US Department of Justice to “intervene immediately” after District Attorney Andrew Womble said he would not be pursuing criminal charges against the officers involved, saying their actions were “justified.”
Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten supported his officers’ actions though called for additional training to be administered. Wooten has also requested the full release of the body camera footage. North Carolina state law requires a court order to release police video footage.
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