A North Carolina city declared a state of emergency moments before the family of Andrew Brown Jr., who was shot and killed by police last week, was set to view the body camera footage documenting his death.
Officials in Elizabeth City made the move due to a potential “period of civil unrest” as top government brass and media outlets file court requests to release the body camera footage, which has been previously unavailable to the public. The order will allow the area “to take whatever steps necessary” to preserve both “life and property.”
Brown, 42, died on Wednesday, though few details have been released about the circumstances surrounding his run-in with law enforcement. Brown’s family was set to view the footage at around 11:30 a.m., but the process has been delayed due to redactions of certain aspects of the video.
NORTH CAROLINA MAN FATALLY SHOT BY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY
Attorney Ben Crump, who represented the family of George Floyd, has been a leader in demanding the footage be viewed by the public.
“What is on the video that is so damning?” he asked on Monday, according to multiple outlets.
Under North Carolina law, body camera footage can only be released through a judge’s order. Chairman of the Pasquotank County Commissioners Lloyd Griffin has urged patience during the process.
“Rushing the gathering of evidence and interviewing of witnesses would hurt any future legal case that might be brought in the wake of this tragedy,” he said. “Justice, when done right, takes time.”
Adding that the full county leadership grieves with Brown’s family, Griffin said that “everyone should want a thorough, fair, and proper investigation into exactly what happened. … Sadly, some irresponsible voices are calling for a rushed investigation and rush to judgement [sic].”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Brown’s death is one of several high-profile incidents that have drawn attention and protests in the last few months. Violent riots and looting episodes plagued Minneapolis following the death of Daunte Wright, a black man who was killed after former Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, police officer Kim Potter mistook her gun for a Taser and shot him.
Potter has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter. The incident happened amid the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing Floyd after kneeling on his neck for over nine minutes in late May 2020. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and he could now face up to 40 years in prison. He is set for sentencing in eight weeks.
