While the verdict isn't something they agree with, the Brittain family said they do accept it. Brittain was up late working on the vehicles transmission before taking the test drive, family members have said. Larger agencies might not have the day-to-day contact with individual investigators, which you find in a small prosecutors office, Golden said. King was in the car with Brittain in the early morning hours of June 23, 2021. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Davis told investigators he shot Brittain once in the neck after the teen exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup while failing to comply with commands to show his hands, according to the arrest affidavit. The civil-rights attorneys also represented the family of George Floyd, who died in 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Another witness who was nearby during the shooting said he was at the shop waiting on Brittain and a friend when he heard the gunshots. A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands. (AP) The Rev. Hopefully, Hunter and his untimely death will finish what Hunters brother George Floyd and his death started, Jacob said. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off orders over 15 with this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Jury deliberations lasted less than three hours. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. As I have said since day one, this was a tragic event and we all need to continue praying for those involved," Staley said. Once he gets back? After a few minutes, he can be heard crying. They always seem to have their body cameras off. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. "It was cold-blooded murder by the Lonoke police. The issue of policing is not about Black and white, Reverend Al Sharpton said at a eulogy for Mr Brittain. Investigators found no firearms in or near the truck. Unfortunately no one was ever trained on what the "if possible" meant. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Arkansas State Police investigated Davis use of deadly force and turned over its findings to Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, who was named special prosecutor for the case July 12. During his instruction it states that you must tell the subject you are going to shoot them before "if possible." Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. Now that the trial has begun, Brittain's Aunt Mary Robertson is praying that that accountability happens in the coming days. The coroners report does not specify how many times Brittain was shot but does list the immediate cause/manner of death as gunshot wound of neck and arm. The firearm was listed as a police-issued, semi-automatic pistol. Sadly there is not really anyone who we can point to here in Arkansas who is a quote and quote expert who can talk on this because it is untreaded territory right now. Once it happened to my sons best friend, I said it could happen to my son so it was too close to home to not do anything about it., Dozens of people gathered outside the sheriffs office after the memorial service for a rally with Brittains family, attorneys and the NAACP. It soon shows Davis telling another deputy, Nathaniel Rice, "The guy jumped out of the f****** truck and grabbed something out of the back, and it was a f****** oil can. A former Arkansas deputy was convicted on Friday of negligent homicide and sentenced to a year in jail for shooting an unarmed teenager whose death last year drew the attention of national. Crump previously released a statement that Brittain was shot three times by Lonoke County sheriffs Sgt. 1, we dont have situations like this very often, he said. The vehicle was smoking and making loud noises, Davis and King have said. An investigator with the Arkansas State Police was called to the stand after. The county has not decided whether to grant the hearing, County Attorney Allen Dodson said Wednesday. The sentence has resulted in mixed emotions from many parties involved, that all had comments after the verdict. At about seven minutes into the video, another deputy arrives and says, "Why don't we just chill and stop talking now?". Davis shot Brittain once while Brittain's hands were still in the truck bed, according to Davis' statement to state police investigators and his testimony while on the stand. Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by a Lonoke County sheriffs deputy in June, died of gunshot wounds in his neck and arm, according to a coroners report released Wednesday. The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said. The document says what it says, Jacob said. Davis attorney, Robert Newcomb, said the report throws doubt on earlier statements from Brittains family members and their attorneys that the teen was shot three times. He also got emotional multiple times during his testimony. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas, United States. Family members have said Brittain had been working on his trucks transmission and had been test driving it when he was pulled over. Al Sharpton gave a eulogy asking for the public to come together to help push for policing reforms. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We'll never have Hunter standing with us again.". Jordan King, a friend of Brittains in the truck at the time, said he didnt hear any commands to stop. Without all the evidence I cannot make any determination on whether the shooting was proper.. Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley a week after the shooting for breaking a department policy that requires deputies body cameras to be turned on before interactions with the public. The people of this county are good, decent people and they, like me, want to see accountability and transparency in this situation, Staley wrote on the offices Facebook page. He is the first law enforcement officer to be convicted by an Arkansas jury for an on-duty shooting in recent history. His press conference on Friday was brief and he refused to take questions. The Lonoke Co. sheriff said he supports the public release of body cam video in the fatal shooting of Hunter Brittain when the "State Police investigation allow it." More Videos Next up in 5 The charge was brought by special prosecutor Jeff Phillips of the 5th Judicial District after Lonoke County prosecutor Chuck Graham recused himself from the case. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Print Headline: Lonoke deputy fatally shot teen Hunter Brittain in neck, arm, coroner says. At times, prosecutors will recuse themselves and request a special prosecutor for cases involving law enforcement officers because of the relationship between the two bodies. Davis has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2013. Brittain was transferred to a nearby hospital where he died from the gunshot wound. During the early morning hours of June 23, Davis spotted Brittain driving a vehicle that was smoking heavily and an engine that was knocking, Newcomb said Wednesday. Weeks later the investigative file was sent to his office, and the state polices denial regarding the release of body-camera footage related to the shooting cited Grahams opinion on the issue. Shortly after the shooting, Davis was fired by the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office for breaking their body-camera policy. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Davis pulled over Hunter Brittain, 17, on June 23, 2021, outside Cabot, a small town 30 miles north of Little Rock. (AP) The results of the investigation into a Lonoke County deputy's deadly shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a traffic stop have been handed over to prosecutors. Davis said he gave commands to Brittain to show his hands that were ignored. I think its murder, she said. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The two conflicting narratives were hampered by the fact that Davis body camera was never turned on during the quick encounter. Rebecca Payne, Brittains grandmother, said family members wanted the deputy convicted of the felony to ensure he could not serve as an officer again. "[It's] going to cost him $15,000 to go home and be with his family, while we're at a loss. Crump, in a statement, said the charges were the first step in the pursuit of justice for Brittain, adding that his shooting was the latest example of law enforcement shooting first and asking questions later.. On July 1, a little more than a week after the shooting, Chuck Graham, prosecuting attorney for the 23rd Judicial District, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he planned to file a motion for the assignment of a special prosecutor. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 300 hours of community service. Famed attorney Ben Crump named one of TIME's100 Most Influential People, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in. BEEBE, Ark. On June 23, Hunter's life was cut short when a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy fatally shot him during a traffic stop. Video at arkansasonline.com/mdavis/. When asked what that might include, he said, Not much for the state police. He said Davis missed one of the three steps needed to activate the camera. In shooting case, office failed to quickly cut police contact, Family and friends of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, including his uncle, Harley Brittain (left), hold a rally outside the Lonoke County sheriff's office in Lonoke in this June 23, 2021, file photo. Al Sharpton, who spoke at Brittain's funeral July 6 at Beebe High School, where the teen attended school. "Although Mr. Davis no longer works for my office, Ive been following this case closely. They know exactly what they are doing. A Freedom of Information Act request for communication between Graham and the Arkansas State Police shows there was some contact between the two agencies between the time of the shooting and Grahams recusal. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. The Arkansas State Police on Friday released body camera footage showing the moments after former Lonoke County sheriff's Deputy Michael Davis fatally shot Hunter Brittain during an early morning traffic stop June 23. "I don't think it's fair. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? [DOCUMENT: Coroners report for Noah Hunter Brittain arkansasonline.com/coronerbrittain]. Al Sharpton, left, and attorney Benjamin Crump, right, escort Rebecca Payne to view her grandson's casket during the funeral service for 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the Beebe High Schools Auditorium in Beebe, Ark. Crump led the crowd in chanting, Hunter Brittains life matters.. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. A video from Rice, who arrived within minutes of the shooting, shows King on the ground in cuffs as Davis yells. On June 24, Graham sent an email to state police special agent Robert Middleton saying, Per our phone conversation, we will not be releasing the body camera video of the recent Officer Involved Shooting in Lonoke County at this time. ", Davis then starts yelling at a passenger, Jordan King, "What are y'all driving the vehicle like that?". The document says what it says, Jacob said. Davis told authorities he gave "several commands" to Brittain to get back in his car and to show his hands as Brittain reached with both hands into the bed of the truck when he fired his weapon. 27 June 2021 Protesters gathered outside the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office last Wednesday in Lonoke, Arkansas, consisting of friends and family of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was gunned. That's when the jury was shown what body camera footage there is in this case, which only shows what happened after Brittain was shot. The civil rights attorneys, who represented George Floyds family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better. btw before the traffic stop, the officer turned off his body-cam, then turned it on after the shooting which is against department policy. Robert Newcomb, Davis' defense attorney, has said Davis believed that he had turned the camera on and didn't realize it wasn't working until after firing the shot that killed Brittain. Jordan King was the passenger in the truck at the time of the shooting and was placed into custody by Davis and another unnamed deputy. His death sparked nationwide protests over policing and racial inequality. He also pointed out that Brittain didn't listen to his commands and that he unable to see both of Brittain's hands in the bed of the truck. "I didn't say that this defendant was a bad guy. Attorney Ben Crump and Jacob were retained by Brittains family in the days after the shooting as the case received national attention. Once we have the autopsy report, we will know more.. Because he is not here, we all have to unite together and make sure people all over America know that we will get justice for Hunter Brittain, Crump said. I didn't say he was a mean guy. I dont think he did anything that clearly prejudiced Davis rights in the case.. "Why'd he hop out of the truck and grab that? When asked for more information, such as the number of times Davis shot Brittain, Shantea Nelson, office manager in the Pulaski County coroners office, said that a state medical examiners autopsy report would have more information than a coroners report. One officer was convicted of murder in Floyds death. 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