The Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the killing of Andrew Brown Jr. in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Brown Jr. was killed by officers last week as officers attempted to serve him a search warrant. Both Brown Jr.'s family and legal representation have publicly stated that he followed the instructions officers gave him leading up to his death.
“The FBI Charlotte Field Office has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the police-involved shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr.,” an FBI spokesperson said.
"Agents will work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice to determine whether federal laws were violated.”
The announcement comes shortly after the Browns received the results of an independent autopsy. According to the report, Brown Jr. was hit four times in the body and one time in the head. Examiners said that he died from a “penetrating gunshot wound of the head."
“Those [four] gunshots to the arm, that weren’t enough? That weren’t enough?” Brown Jr.'s son, Khalil Ferebee, said.
“It’s obvious he was trying to get away. It’s obvious and they’re going to shoot him in the back of the head? That sh–– not right. That’s not right at all, man.”
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Bakari Sellers and Chantel Cherry-Lassiter are now working to release the full body camera recording of the fatal shooting. At this point, attorneys and family members have only seen 20 seconds of the incident.
“We know that the video started before and after what they showed the family, and they determined what was pertinent. Why couldn’t the family see all the video?” Crump asked.
City officials have indicated that the recording will be released in the near future. In preparation, city officials have declared a state of emergency.
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