The prosecution told the jury to look at the evidence--if Davis was able to say, which he testified that he did, "show me your hands" and "get back in the vehicle," then he enough time to tell Brittain, "I am going to shoot you.". Once we have the autopsy report, we will know more.. The email went on to state, Chuck Graham, Lonoke Prosecuting Attorney, has further opposed the release of the body camera footage related to this incident at this time. When asked by the Democrat-Gazette, Graham confirmed that he continued to communicate with the state police agency up until filing his recusal. Graham said hes sent the file to the state prosecutor coordinator since hes requested a special prosecutor to handle the case. 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.. Heres what you need to know. It was unclear what impact Sharptons and the attorneys calls for action would have in Lonoke County, a rural county of 73,000 people that is 90% white. While everyone in the makeshift courtroom in Cabot was quiet when they heard the decision, they said a lot to once they exited the doors. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Family members said Brittain was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel, to stop it rolling backward. A cop shot and killed Hunter Brittain as the 17-year-old was trying to grab an antifreeze jug from his car. Brittain was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop . "Now, what's gonna happen? I just said that he was a good guy that made a really horrible decision and choice and so that makes it even worse," Prosecuting attorney, Jeff Phillips said. In June, at 3 a.m. on a dark stretch of a highway in rural Arkansas, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was shot and killed by a sergeant from the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office. I never touched it, Graham said when asked about the file. Devon Jacob, Brittains familys attorney, described the report as unclear. Scott Hundley said this is the beginning of what's going to be a long week for those close to Brittain. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Rison hit by Wednesday night storm damage, Arkansas state legislators hit the court in Hoops, Growing old and hungry: Shelbys Pantry in Carlisle, Arkansas LEARNS Act passes through House Education, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, AR legislators play in charity basketball game, AR pantry helps to end hunger in elderly community, LEARNS Act passes through House Ed. A medical examiner from the Arkansas State Crime lab that confirmed Brittain was shot in the neck, was also called to the stand on Wednesday. Davis was originally charged with felony manslaughter Sept. 17. On Rice's footage, crime tape starts to go up as he gets Brittain's name from King. Suspect in shooting of Springdale woman shot by officer after pointing gun at police, Communication program for people with nonverbal autistm coming to Fort Smith, Heavy rain and storms likely to increase Thursday across Arkansas, Storm warning fatigue | Alerting Arkansas. The civil-rights attorneys also represented the family of George Floyd, who died in 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Committee, Families file 100+ complaints against cemetery in, Farmers share their voices at the AR State Capitol, House Education Committee advances Arkansas LEARNS, Embattled UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns, Zelensky: There will be two Victory Days in Ukraine. The video starts with Davis saying, "Shots fired, shots fired," across his radio. We definitely have been trying to come up with a way, when a citizen dies by law enforcement, for there to be an additional route to investigate that, that doesnt involve any of the agencies that work with the officers, Abdul-Bey said. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. A family photo of Hunter Brittain, a 17-year-old boy from Arkansas who was shot during a traffic stop, when an officer saw him reaching for a jug in the back of his truck. But King said Davis never gave any commands to Brittain before he shot him. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. While it is difficult to wait for answers, it is important that the investigation that occurs is both fair and complete.. Michael Davis, during a traffic stop June 23 near Cabot, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. Call if you have any questions. Graham sent a text the next day to an unknown person in the police agency saying, Ive got you in my phone, call me anytime. The next day, the Arkansas State Police passed the investigation file to Grahams office. There is no body camera footage of the incident, though the officer had a camera in his possession. As I have said since day one, this was a tragic event and we all need to continue praying for those involved," Staley said. Brittains family claim the teen had been working on his pickup, and that at the time of the shooting he was unarmed, with only a bottle of antifreeze in his hands. 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. As Brittain did this, Davis shot one round at Brittain in his lower right neck. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas, United States. Even before the memorial service, Brittains friends and family were calling for change at the state level with petitions urging the Legislature to require officers to wear body cameras that would be turned on as soon as their shift begins. On Sept. 20, Davis was released on a $15,000 bond. Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, representing Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. 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. Early in the morning of 23 June, Hunter Brittain was hard at work fixing his truck so it would be ready in time to make his construction job at 6am. Both are representing Brittains family. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. The file includes hundreds of documents, including Davis' employment record, body camera footage from deputies and Cabot police officers who responded, crime scene photos and interviews with witnesses. 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. Even though it's not the ending he wanted, defense attorney Robert Newcomb said juries often go with the lesser charge. It's a case that's gained national attention and one that has greatly impacted the community of Lonoke and across Arkansas. Jesse Brittain, Hunters uncle, received a standing ovation when he called for an end to qualified immunity for police officers, a legal doctrine that frequently shields them from civil lawsuits for things they do in the course of their job. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said. But if we segregate how we react, then were wrong.. This is my opinion. Crump said a proposed bill that is being referred to as Hunters Law would include a mandate that body cameras be active during interactions between police and civilians and that those videos be released immediately to the public. 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. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. He said Davis missed one of the three steps needed to activate the camera. During his instruction it states that you must tell the subject you are going to shoot them before "if possible." Jurors acquitted Michael Davis of manslaughter while finding him guilty of the misdemeanor charge in the death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a June traffic stop outside Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people roughly 30 miles north-east of Little Rock. Its time they start letting us know something., Community members also rallied behind the Brittain family, demanding Justice for Hunter.. All rights reserved. Hey, ever wounder what happened at the end of that case?? The white teens death prompted protests in a region of the state not known for speaking out against police violence. A passenger and another witness testified they never heard Davis tell the teen to show his hands. The document says what it says, Jacob said. The two were test-driving the vehicle about 3 a.m when Davis pulled them over. Once he gets back? His press conference on Friday was brief and he refused to take questions. The last witness called in by prosecution was Davis' former boss, Sheriff John Staley, who told the jury that Davis had issues with turning on his body camera in the past. (Tommy Metthe/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He was my grandson. Al Sharpton and attorneys for George Floyds family on Tuesday mourned a white Arkansas teenager fatally shot by a sheriffs deputy, as they urged support across racial lines for efforts to reform police practices. (AP) The results of the investigation into a Lonoke County deputys deadly shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a traffic stop have been handed over to prosecutors. Im his grandmother. 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