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. Videos from body cameras show moments after deputy fired fatal shot, The Arkansas State Police released video Friday from the body camera of former Lonoke County Deputy Michael Davis, taken the night 17-year-old Hunter Brittain was fatally shot during a traffic stop near Cabot. There is no body camera footage of the incident, though the officer had a camera in his possession. The family is going to continue to trust the process, Jacob said. Davis said he shot Brittain once, after the teen exited his truck and. I dont think he did anything that clearly prejudiced Davis rights in the case.. 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.. What has been the reaction to the shooting? 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 gone wrong. Davis and King have said that Brittain jumped out of the truck as soon as he stopped for Davis. 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. Print Headline: Lonoke deputy fatally shot teen Hunter Brittain in neck, arm, coroner says, Copyright 2023, Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC. 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. Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. Moving forward, both Brittain's family and Michael Davis will be involved in separate civil lawsuits against the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office. Are people gonna have to fear for their life again? All rights reserved. Rice's video also starts right before "shots fired" transmits across his radio. He also got emotional multiple times during his testimony. Brittain turned into a nearby parking lot and jumped out of the backward moving vehicle and reached into the back of the truck, he said. An investigator with the Arkansas State Police was called to the stand after. Due to that failure, I have terminated the employment of this deputy, the sheriff said in a video statement on Facebook. 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. On June 23, Hunter's life was cut short when a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy fatally shot him during a traffic stop. Bodycam footage of an Arkansas deputy responding to the scene after former Sgt. 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. Mike Davis plead not guilty to felony manslaughter in the death of Hunter Brittain. The video was first seen by the public during the first day of Davis' trial. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. Hunters family is already distrustful because they havent gotten any answers whatsoever, Crump said. 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. 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. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. Investigators found no firearms in or near the truck. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. Didn't put the truck in park, nothing," Davis says. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. State Police say Hunter Britain, 17 was shot and killed by Sergeant Michael Davis. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. King responds that the truck wouldn't shift into park. He wont be an officer no more and he cant kill no more kids.. 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. 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. "We were a bit surprised about this sentencing, and that they were out in about 20 minutes and came back with a maximum sentence," he said. 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. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy in June, died of gunshot wounds in his neck and arm, according to a coroner's report released Wednesday. 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. The sheriff said he respected the jurys decision. Brittain was transferred to a nearby hospital where he died from the gunshot wound. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. Crump and Jacob have been involved in high-profile homicide cases that include those of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery. It's a case that's gained national attention and one that has greatly impacted the community of Lonoke and across Arkansas. 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. 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. After a short break, open arguments started around 2:30 p.m. 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 Sheriffs Office. While it is difficult to wait for answers, it is important that the investigation that occurs is both fair and complete.. Killing of Hunter Brittain Read Edit View history At approximately 3:00 am ( CDT) on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was unarmed, was shot by Lonoke County sheriff's deputy Sgt. The following day on March 18, the jury found Michael Davis guilty of negligent homicide in the fatal shooting of Hunter Brittain after 2.5 hours of deliberation. It's not that this isn't a shocking and tragic. Hes currently being held in an undisclosed jail, after being booked in Lonoke County. Staley said on the witness stand during the trial that deputies should turn on their body cameras at about the time they initiate blue lights, if conducting traffic stops. Sharpton eulogized 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriffs deputy, Sgt. All rights reserved. He also shared what made him fear for his life, which consequently made him fire his gun. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. They always seem to have their body cameras off. Scott Hundley said this is the beginning of what's going to be a long week for those close to Brittain. 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. I never thought anything like this would happen until it hit so close to home, said Scott Hendrickson, whose son was close friends with Brittain and who is . He claimed in documents filed in Lonoke County Circuit Court that Davis has had a very close working relationship with most members of the prosecutors office and has recently testified for the state in at least one jury trial. The motion was granted by 1st Division Circuit Judge Barbara Elmore the same day. Phillips received the investigative file on July 15, according to an email from the prosecutor coordinating office. Every state, every locality, is different, Marque Heydari said. Got a tip? Rice's camera moves at about 19 minutes into his video, and Brittain is no longer on the ground. Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley last week fired Davis for not turning on his body camera until after he had shot Brittain. 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. Few details about the shooting have been officially released over the past two months. "There's a lot of wrongful police and I'm not saying all police are bad because I have law enforcement in my family, but it's the ones, like this, that give them bad names and he needs to be held accountable for it," he said. Prosecuting attorney, Jeff Phillips said the state is fine with the verdict but the sentencing wasn't what they expected. All rights reserved. They have also pushed for state laws that would require officers to have their body cameras on their entire shift. He would have faced between three and 10 years in prison for manslaughter, a felony. 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. Hunter Brittain (left) and then-Sgt. I'll say I'm not necessarily surprised by that burden," he said. 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. 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 civil rights leaders. There's no way around it and nobody's gonna change my mind about it," he said. 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. The civil rights leader and the high-profile attorney, who Sharpton has dubbed "Black America's Attorney general," deemed the police shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain "one of the most. 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. The judge added that no one can wear t-shirts or have any signs on their cars starting on Tuesday, March 15, when jury selection begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, started with jury selection, which took about four hours. Davis, who was originally charged with felony. The only thing that bothered me is that they checked with Graham and they wouldnt let us look at the video, Newcomb said. He was my grandson. 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. During his instruction it states that you must tell the subject you are going to shoot them before "if possible." The state police released a majority of the investigative file Friday. Al Sharpton gave a eulogy asking for the public to come together to help push for policing reforms. Chuck. Text messages sent later that day and on June 28 were redacted by the state police agency. No matter which side you looked at, it was a difficult week for everyone. Send it to The Daily Beasthere. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. That's all I asked for," Rebecca Payne, Brittain's grandma, said. Davis said that before he could put his own car in park, Brittain jumped out and moved to the rear of the truck and began reaching into the bed as it slowly rolled backward. According to the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office, Sergeant Michael Davis initiated the traffic stop at 3 a.m. on June 23. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Jordan King, a friend of Brittains in the truck at the time, said he didnt hear any commands to stop. Many attending the memorial wore jeans and shirts that read Justice for Hunter, in a ceremony that included Floyd family attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob. The case has garnered national attention, as calls for police reform continue around the country in the wake of last summers widespread Black Lives Matter protests. 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. I didnt get into this job to kill people, he said. 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. Neither Brittains nor Davis attorneys are supportive of Grahams decision to withhold body-camera footage. Larger agencies might not have the day-to-day contact with individual investigators, which you find in a small prosecutors office, Golden said. "I was not happy. 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