The fatal police shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. by North Carolina deputies was “justified” because he posed “an immediate threat to others,” prosecutors said Tuesday, as new police body camera footage showing the deadly encounter was released.
“This case clearly illustrates the officers who used deadly force on Andrew Brown Jr. did so reasonably, and only when a violent felon, used a deadly weapon to place their lives in danger,” District Attorney R. Andrew Womble said at a press conference.
Womble, the DA for North Carolina’s First Judicial District, said no officer will be criminally charged in the April 21 shooting.
Rep. Val Demings Will Challenge Marco Rubio for His Senate Seat in 2022
“The shooting of Brown was justified to prevent potential harm to those living near where the incident occurred, as well as pedestrians, support deputies and the deputies who were in front of Mr. Brown,” Womble added.
Browns’ family accused the DA of trying to “whitewash this unjustified killing.”
“To say this shooting was justified, despite the known facts, is both an insult and a slap in the face to Andrew’s family, the Elizabeth City community, and to rational people everywhere,” according to a statement released by the family’s attorneys.
Four new body-camera clips were released Tuesday showing the 44-second fatal police encounter with the 42-year-old for the first time.
Source: Fatal police shooting of Andrew Brown was ‘justified,’ North Carolina DA says, as new video released
