As they were getting pulled over, King said they were laughing and thought it was funny because the truck was smoking. Michael Davis guilty of negligent homicide in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. The state rested their case and the defense will start on Thursday, March 17, at 9 a.m. During the third day of trial, the defense brought up their witnesses. [DOCUMENT: Coroners report for Noah Hunter Brittain arkansasonline.com/coronerbrittain]. 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.". An Arkansas sheriff's deputy shot and killed a teenager after a traffic stop early Wednesday, officials said. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. The family is going to continue to trust the process, Jacob said. It was emotional for witnesses and Brittain's family, many of them had to step out of the courtroom. It was released after the March 18 closure of a trial in which Davis, 31, was convicted of misdemeanor negligent homicide in the death of the 17-year-old from McRae. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. On Friday, Jeff Phillips, a special prosecutor assigned to the case, announced that Michael Davis, the sergeant who shot Brittain, will be charged with manslaughter for recklessly shooting at Brittain. 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. The family's attorney, Devon Jacob said they aren't going to focus on the charges, but rather look at the meaning behind the jury's decision. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 300 hours of community service. I do all the on-call stuff, Graham said in a phone conversation last week. 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. That is why it is very crucial for prosecutors to be as clear and transparent as they can be. James Golden, a professor of criminal justice at the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, echoed Marque Heydaris comments. attracted the attention of Black civil rights leaders. I didnt get into this job to kill people, he said. His attorney, Newcomb, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Davis then moves to sit in another vehicle by himself. Brittains family and friends have held protests nightly outside the Lonoke County sheriffs office and have complained about the lack of information released. He would have faced between three and 10 years in prison for manslaughter, a felony. Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in death of Arkansas teen out on bond. The report from the Pulaski County coroner said the initial 911 call came in at 3:08 a.m. on June 23 and Brittain was pronounced dead around 3:58 a.m. by an attending physician at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. 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. The issue of policing is not about Black and white, Sharpton told a packed auditorium at Beebe High School, where Brittain was a rising senior. A jury found former Lonoke County Sgt. A jury found former Lonoke County Sgt. Michael Davis of the Lonoke County sheriff's office are shown in this undated combination of courtesy photos. 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. But if we segregate how we react, then were wrong.. On Friday, the Arkansas State Police released the law enforcement video of the aftermath of the June 23, 2021, shooting death of Hunter Brittain in Lonoke County. Davis turned himself inon Friday, Sept. 17, after the special prosecuting attorney issued an arrest warrant for manslaughter. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A memorial for Hunter Brittain in Beebe, Arkansas last year. Example video title will go here for this video. Details about when the camera was activated and what footage was captured arent publicly known because Freedom of Information Act requests for the footage have been denied. Brittains family has said the teenager was unarmed and was holding a jug of antifreeze when he was shot. 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. The sentence has resulted in mixed emotions from many parties involved, that all had comments after the verdict. Ben Crump, who represented Brittains family said: Hunter deserved better.. No matter which side you looked at, it was a difficult week for everyone. We'll never have Hunter standing with us again.". Please read our Terms of Use or contact us. Got a tip? 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. 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. The car, which had transmission issues, began smoking and was pulled over by Davis as it neared the repair shop. The white teens death prompted protests in a region of the state not known for speaking out against police violence. Brittain's family said he was working on his truck right before he drove it down the road and was pulled over by Davis. On June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was test driving his truck after making repairs early in the morning when he was pulled over by former Lonoke County Sgt. 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. But even after the verdict, the Brittain family said this isn't the end of them telling Hunter's story. The Lonoke County prosecutors office had contact with the Arkansas State Police before and after recusing itself because of an unavoidable conflict in the investigation into the fatal shooting June 23 of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain by a sheriffs deputy. He later died at North Little Rock Hospital. Lonoke County Prosecutor Chuck Graham said he had received the Arkansas State Police case file on the deadly shooting of the teen during a June 23 traffic stop. Staley on Monday said he welcomed those who want to peacefully protest, but that out-of-state activists could risk inflaming an already difficult situation.. The killing in the predominantly white community has drawn the attention of national civil rights activists such as Sharpton, who said concerns about police tactics arent just limited to the Black community. "I was hoping for a not guilty verdict on both charges. In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies typically investigate cases while prosecutors make the decision on whether criminal charges will be filed. Arkansas State Police are investigating Brittains death. The report said that a sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office who has been identified as Michael Davis conducted a traffic stop at Arkansas 89 and Tower Road when the decedent [Brittain] got out of the vehicle and got something out of the back before moving toward the sergeant, after which the sergeant fired his weapon. The report was first requested by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on July 8. Davis, an eight-year veteran with the Lonoke County Sheriffs office, gave the boy commands to stop and shot him before he could see what he was retrieving, which turned out to be a jug of antifreeze. He has not responded to numerous emails requesting updates on the investigation, including a message sent Wednesday. Crump led the crowd in chanting, Hunter Brittains life matters.. 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. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas State Police). One bullet can go through and cause injury in more than one location, Newcomb said. After another pre-trial hearing on March 14, the trial will officially begin on March 15. (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. The investigation of the shooting was quickly turned over to the Arkansas State Police. According to family members, Brittain had been working on the vehicles transmission and was taking a test drive when he was stopped by Davis. Relatives say former US Marine killed fighting in, What about Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner left in, Russia frees US Marine vet as part of prisoner exchange, Strike kills 50 at crowded Ukraine rail station, Pink Floyd members reunite and record song for Ukraine, US to send $100M more in military aid to Ukraine, Ukrainian poisonings kill 2 Russian soldiers: officials, NLR Baptist Health opens new critical care unit, Mayflower police make arrest in deadly I-40 shooting, Arkansas State Parks kicks off centennial celebration, Every Child Arkansas bringing change to foster care, AST Blog: Remembering March 1997 tornado outbreak, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Brttain went to the bed to get something(transmission fluid / anti-freeze) for the truck. the officer fired 1 shot killing the teen. The issue of policing is not about Black and white, Reverend Al Sharpton said at a eulogy for Mr Brittain. Mike Davis near a body shop in Cabot. 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. TIL Sam Kinison was killed by a drunk driving 17 year old, Troy Pierson. Once we have the autopsy report, we will know more.. Larger agencies might not have the day-to-day contact with individual investigators, which you find in a small prosecutors office, Golden said. Brittain made his way to the truck bed, where he grabbed a blue coolant jug. Both were lawyers in George Floyd's murder case. 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. My nephew, Hunter, is laying in a grave or refrigeration and this man is going to get to go home," he said. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. Michael Davis, during a traffic stop June 23 near Cabot, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. But we are going to change that. Alissa Marque Heydari, deputy director for the Institute of Innovation in Prosecution at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, says it is recommended that if a prosecuting office is involved in an investigation, the office is staffed by prosecutors and investigators who are completely internally separate from the rest of the office. Newcomb, a Little Rock attorney who often represents police officers, requested a grievance hearing on behalf of Davis from Lonoke County. Michael Davis, a former police sergeant in Arkansas, has been charged with manslaughter for "recklessly" shooting and Hunter Brittain, an unarmed 17-year-old killed during a traffic stop. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. The trial is taking place at the Cabot Readiness Center, where it was moved from the Lonoke County courthouse, mainly due to the fact that there are not a lot of windows inside the courtroom. Minutes after the shooting, a third deputy starts to console Davis while still at the scene. The family is going to continue to trust the process, Jacob said. Brittain was shot by a Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy during a traffic stop on June 23. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. 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. 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.. During the trial, King told the jury that Brittain had been working on replacing his transmission all night. All rights reserved. King, 16 at the time, said the teens had previously used a coolant container to stop the truck from rolling back. Brittain was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop . 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. On 1 July, the the sheriffs office announced it had fired sergeant Davis for failing to comply with the agencys body camera policy. The two conflicting narratives were hampered by the fact that Davis body camera was never turned on during the quick encounter. A video from Rice, who arrived within minutes of the shooting, shows King on the ground in cuffs as Davis yells. Chances are you haven't yet heard about 17-year-old Hunter Brittain who, despite being unarmed, was shot dead by police during a traffic stop. Mike Davis plead not guilty to felony manslaughter in the death of Hunter Brittain. Davis, Newcomb said. The young man jumped out and ran to the back of the car and stuck his hands into the back of the vehicle and still wasnt responding to any verbal commands, Newcomb said. (AP) The Rev. Staley said the only footage police have is from the aftermath. 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. 1, we dont have situations like this very often, he said. Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, representing Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. State Police say Hunter Britain, 17 was shot and killed by Sergeant Michael Davis. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory cant publicly release the autopsy report because of Arkansas Code 1212-312, Director Kermit Channell said. Davis retained Arkansas attorney Robert Newcomb after being fired for what Sheriff John Staley described as a policy violation for failure to turn on his body camera in a timely manner. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. According to an affidavit read by Phillips at a press conference, Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. Highway Patrol trooper on leave after fatal Morton County shooting. 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. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. They should have no interaction with police officers because that can create a sense of bias, Marque Heydari said. 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. 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. BEEBE, Ark. The report from the Pulaski County coroner said the initial 911 call came in at 3:08 a.m. on June 23 and Brittain was pronounced dead around 3:58 a.m. by an attending physician at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock. Sharpton eulogized 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriff's deputy, Sgt. You know, he'll go back to force," she said. The case made national headlines and gained the attention of civil-rights activists, including the Rev. He also got emotional multiple times during his testimony. Crump previously released a statement that Brittain was shot three times by Lonoke County sheriffs Sgt. He took a life.. 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. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (NWA Media). They always seem to have their body cameras off. Davis attorney, Robert Newcomb, previously told The Daily Beast that Davis feared the worst when Brittain hopped out and reached into the bed of his truck. The case attracted attention from national civil rights leaders better known for their work with Black Lives Matter. 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. Post your articles here so that everyone will have a chance to see our government at work (or showing their lack thereof) taking their own to task! 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. It makes you concerned that they are looking for a weapon. Newcomb said he isnt concerned by Grahams involvement with investigators. At that point, that was within a couple days of the event.. ", Davis then starts yelling at a passenger, Jordan King, "What are y'all driving the vehicle like that?". (Tommy Metthe/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Taped interviews with Staley and Davis were still being redacted by the state police as of Friday and will be released at a later date. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Multiple Brittain family members rushed from the room as graphic images of the 17-year-old played out on a screen. The teen didnt respond to verbal commands given by the deputy, Necomb said. 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