Andrew Brown Jr., a 42-year-old Black American, was fatally shot on April 21, 2021, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The incident occurred while deputies from the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office were serving drug-related search and arrest warrants at Brown's residence. The arrest warrant, issued on April 20, was for possession with intent to sell approximately three grams of cocaine.
During the attempted arrest, Brown was shot five times, including once in the back of the head, which was the fatal shot. The official death certificate listed his death as a homicide.
The shooting sparked significant controversy and protests, as Brown's family and their attorneys argued that the use of deadly force was unjustified. They claimed that Brown was attempting to flee the scene and posed no threat to the deputies. The family commissioned a private autopsy, which confirmed that Brown was shot in the back of the head and four times in the right arm. The autopsy also revealed that the fatal shot had a trajectory of bottom to top, left to right, and back to front.
In response to the shooting, seven officers were placed on leave, and the FBI opened a federal civil rights investigation. The body camera footage of the incident was initially withheld from the public, but Brown's family was allowed to view portions of it. The footage showed that shots were fired while Brown's car was stationary, with his hands on the steering wheel. However, the District Attorney argued that the shots were fired only after Brown attempted to flee and caused his car to make contact with the deputies.
On May 18, 2021, District Attorney Andrew Womble announced that the deputies who shot Brown were justified in using deadly force and would not face criminal charges. Womble stated that the officers acted reasonably and only used deadly force when they believed their lives were in danger. This decision was met with criticism from Brown's family and their attorneys, who had previously requested that Womble recuse himself due to his close working relationship with the Sheriff's Office.
The shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. remains a contentious issue in Elizabeth City, with ongoing calls for police reform and accountability. The incident has highlighted the deep divisions within the community and the need for greater transparency and justice in law enforcement practices.
