The family of Andrew Brown, a black man who was shot and killed by police last Wednesday in North Carolina, were shown 20 seconds of body camera footage on Monday, while attorneys suggested that the incident was an “execution.”
Chantel Cherry-Lassiter, an attorney for the family, and Brown’s loved ones watched the clip over 20 times before making conclusions about the video, she said. The footage has not been released to the public, though city officials and media outlets have begun court requests to release it, which is required under North Carolina law.
“This was an execution,” she said during a press conference. “Andrew Brown was in his driveway. The sheriff truck blocked him in his driveway, so he could not exit his driveway. Andrew had his hands on his steering wheel. He was not reaching for anything. He was not touching anything. He wasn’t throwing anything around. He had his hands firmly on the steering wheel.”
The incident lasted no more than 30 seconds, police later said.
Brown, 42, was fatally shot by law enforcement during the execution of a drug warrant after he was pinned by a confidential informant for allegedly selling crack, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Agents involved in the sting described Brown as “a source of supply” of large quantities of narcotics in the Elizabeth City area, a warrant obtained by Fox News said.
Details regarding the shooting from police authorities remain scarce, though Brown had a 180-page rap sheet dating back to May 1988, Fox News reported.
Earlier on Monday, Elizabeth City declared a state of emergency in preparation for the release of body camera footage to the family. Officials made the move due to a potential “period of civil unrest,” and the order will allow the area “to take whatever steps necessary” to preserve “life and property.”
A multitude of attorneys, including Ben Crump, the lawyer for George Floyd’s family, demanded the public release of the video as tensions rose in the area.
“What is on the video that is so damning?” Crump asked.
Roughly 300 protesters descended on the city after Cherry-Lassiter’s statements, and some marched to the home of County Attorney Michael Cox and demanded that he resign from his post.
Very upbeat positive atmosphere to tonight’s protest…and most of them here in @visitecity. Announcements have been made several times since I’ve covered these that those who want to derail movement or cause chaos should be turned over to @elizcityPD @WAVY_News pic.twitter.com/FgQPMHlWIH
— Brett Hall (@BrettHNews) April 27, 2021
The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
Brown’s death is one of a few over the past weeks that have reignited calls to reform or defund law enforcement following the trial of Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering Floyd on May 25, 2020. On April 11, Daunte Wright died after Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter allegedly mistook her gun for a Taser and shot him. She has since been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
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Minneapolis after Wright’s death again became a hotbed for riot activity as hundreds were seen looting businesses and clashing with uniformed police.
