ELIZABETH CITY, NC - MAY 11: Protestors march in the street after a news conference addressing police video footage of the shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr. on May 11, 2021 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Brown was shot and killed by officers from the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office on April 21.Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Newly released autopsy results from the state of North Carolina have confirmed that Andrew Brown Jr. died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head on April 21. Finalized on Monday morning, the autopsy report lists "homicide" as the cause of death.
Brown Jr. was killed by police officers on April 21 as they attempted to serve a search warrant to his home. However, Brown Jr. was not inside of his home at the time the search warrant was served. Instead, he was sitting inside of his car attempting to back away. Spotting Brown Jr., officers opened fire on the 42-year-old father. As the state autopsy confirmed, Brown Jr. was hit and killed by a bullet to the back of his head. He was reportedly unarmed at the time of the incident.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Pasquotank County District Attorney Andrew Womble attempted to justify the killing of an unarmed civilian by saying that Brown Jr. drove at the police officers. The Browns called Womble's characterization of what took place a "slap in the face."
"The autopsy results prove what we've always known to be true: Pasquotank County deputies executed Andrew Brown Jr. with a kill shot to the back of the head," family attorneys Ben Crump, Bakari Sellers, Chantel Cherry-Lassiter and Harry Daniels said.
"The false narrative that DA Womble has attempted to weave is completely discredited by this autopsy report."
Thus far, medical examiners have shared autopsy reports, police officers have made public statements and the family of Andrew Brown Jr. has been left to mourn. However, the public still does not have access to the relevant body-camera footage connected to the killing of Brown Jr. Judge Jeffrey Foster has maintained that it is not appropriate to release the footage at this time.
“The release at this time would create a serious threat to the fair, impartial and orderly administration of justice,” Judge Jeffrey Foster wrote.
“If you ain’t got nothing to hide, show the tape," attorney Harry Daniels said at a press conference.
More than one month after the police shooting of Brown Jr., the Elizabeth City, North Carolina community has more questions than answers.
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