Over 40 years in public service, he has held such notable positions as youth director of New York's Operation Breadbasket, director of ministers for the National Rainbow Push coalition and founder of his own broad-based progressive civil rights organization, the National Action Network. 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 . "That is why we have a prosecutor. He is no longer with us in the physical sense, but his spirit is calling us to get out of our frozen place and unite, stand together, march together and fight together for true justice for all. From 2017 to the present, according to Statista.com, victims of fatal police shootings in the US total 4379, of whom 1,805 are identified as white, 989 as black, 692 as Hispanic, 150 as other, and 753 as unidentified. Skip Navigation Share on Facebook [2] Brittain's family claimed he was test driving a truck, which he had been working on when he was pulled over by the deputy. According to King, Davis, without issuing any commands, immediately drew his weapon and fatally shot Brittain. [5] Davis was fired for leaving his body cam off until after Brittain was shot. Police killing innocents is wrong. There is a witness to Brittain's shooting. 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of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. However, Davis, after allegedly issuing commands, fired one round, piercing Brittains arm and striking him in the lower-right neck. He denied the release of the footage on July 19. "It goes back to the narrative that law enforcement is a good-old-boy system, and they will do whatever they can to protect their own, and what is needed is transparency," Abdul-Bey said. The white teen's. I was checking with him on his truck, Hundley said. The former deputy subsequently surrendered to state police agents, and on September 20 he appeared at the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office where bond was set at $15,000. A Sheriff's Deputy Shot and Killed Him", "Lonoke deputy shoots, kills youth after traffic stop UPDATE", "Cousin of teen killed by deputy walks with American flag to remember last moments alive", "Arkansas deputy fired after fatally shooting teen; body camera wasn't on, sheriff says", "Deputy who shot Arkansas teen fired for leaving body cam off", "Al Sharpton eulogizes white Arkansas teen shot by deputy", "Arkansas teen killed by deputy leads supporters to propose 'Hunter's Law', "Arkansas deputy sentenced to one year for teen's traffic stop death", "Former deputy found guilty of negligent homicide in Arkansas teen's death", "Former Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy sentenced for the death of unarmed teen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Killing_of_Hunter_Brittain&oldid=1128684088, Law enforcement controversies in the United States, People shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Lawsuit filed against Davis by Brittain's family, This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 11:51. King was later interviewed by the Arkansas State Police regarding what had occurred. Its at that point that the officer, Michael Davis, shot the 17-year-old three times. "I can argue otherwise. A seventeen-year-old white boy from McRae, Arkansas, Hunter was a rising senior at Beebe High School. . We come for what is right. The mostly white audience applauded. "I do think it would be useful to have legislation that gives the public easier access to body camera footage," he said. Originally dubbed "Black . Former Lonoke County Deputy Sgt. According to Crump, the families wanted to know if Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson supported Hunters Lawa proposed reform which would require law enforcement agencies in the state to provide police officers with body-mounted cameras while also requiring officers to activate their body-mounted cameras from the beginning of their shift to the end. Hunter Brittain, on left (Twitter) A Lonoke County, Arkansas, deputy who shot and killed an unarmed teen during an early morning traffic stop in June has been fired for not recording the. He received the investigative file July 15, according to an email from the Arkansas Prosecutor Coordinating Office. In 2019 roughly 100 cops were killed in the line of duty out of roughly 800,000 cops nationwide. Davis was charged with manslaughter; to be convicted, a jury must find that he recklessly caused Brittains death. He urged all to unite behind equal justice for all races.. All rights reserved. Unlock premium content, ad-free browsing, and access to comments for just $4/month. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 23, Davis initiated a traffic stop after seeing a white GMC pick-up truck smoking, whereupon Brittain immediately exited his vehicle, moved to the rear of his vehicle, as it was rolling backwards towards the front of Daviss patrol vehicle, to reach into the bed of the truck to retrieve a bright blue anti-freeze container. Join the fight for truth and become a subscriber of the Arkansas Times. We will not stop advocating until we have justice for you, Hunter, his uncle, Jesse Brittain, said at Hunters memorial last week. Davis was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley because he didnt turn on his body camera until after the shooting. Meaggan Thomas, the founder of the Tampa Bay Activist Network, provided her solutions when it comes to. I didnt hear it and it happened so fast., King explained that a second police officer arrived at the scene and detained him. Just two days after Brittains death, 23-year-old Dimitri Lanahan was also shot dead by police near Fairbanks, Alaska, after brandishing a fake gun. Then I said. His sister sent me these photos. Feed. And if my coming can bring some publicity, then thats what Im supposed to do.. Davis is being charged with manslaughter following the June shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. We've received your submission. Our monthly magazine is free at over 500 locations in Central Arkansas. An email from the agency also stated that Graham had opposed release of the footage at that time. Mike Davis near a body shop . Now whats going to happen? grandma Rebecca Payne said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Republicans' gas-pump outreach hooks drivers as they fume King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage and give to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Drug-resistant stomach bug spreading across US: 'Serious public health alert', Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell Spare released, Jordyn Woods supports Selena Gomez amid singers feud with Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, RHONJ recap: Jennifer Aydin mocks Rachel Fudas terrible nose job, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. It is legal for officials to deny body camera footage because of an ongoing criminal investigation, Robert Steinbuch, professor of law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law and co-author of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, said Thursday. This is what determines the prevalence of right-wing and racist views within police departments, as well as the fact that minorities, disproportionately among the most impoverished sections of the working class, are disproportionately among their victims. UPDATE: KTHV, quoting a family member, says Hunter Brittain, 17, has died as a result of the shooting. "Justice for Hunter." The cry would be repeated. All rights reserved. More than a month after a Lonoke County deputy shot and killed 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, officials have yet to release body camera footage amid a national conversation about police transparency. Hunter Brittain, 17, was holding a blue jug of antifreeze when he was shot three times by a Lonoke County Sheriff's deputy in June. He arrived to assist Davis after the stop was made. Lawsuit filed in shooting death of Hunter Brittain in Lonoke County, Todays news COVID and corruption and the open line. He mentioned his confusion as to why the deputy would shoot Brittain when he brandished no weapon and did not appear threatening. James Golden, a professor of criminal justice at the UALR School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, said it is important to protect criminal investigations by not releasing the footage until after it is complete. We dont just stand up for one race; we come for what is right, period. Phillips did not respond to a follow-up email sent Thursday by the Democrat-Gazette asking for additional details about why the footage has not been released along with possible timelines of when it could be. A memorial was held for 17-year-old Hunter Brittain who was fatally shot June 23 by a Lonoke County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop around 3 a.m. outside of a local auto repair shop in . Graham, who recused himself from the case July 8, denied the Freedom of Information request July 15. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Qualified immunity for law officers must end, he said, to an ovation. A memorial service was held Tuesday for Hunter Brittain one week after the officer who fatally shot the Arkansas teen was fired from his post for failing to activate his body-worn camera,. Immediately after Andrew Brown was killed earlier this year, the media were hyping up his case as proof of their complete myth that cops are targeting innocent black people. One protester spray-painted the words Justice for Hunter on the building. Sell My Home. What the public wants will look different across the county and should be democratically decided. The attorney requested a grievance hearing from Lonoke County, but as of Friday the county had not decided whether to grant the hearing. Sharpton previews today's meeting with Biden, civil rights groups. Despite this being one of those unarmed police shooting deaths that so often arouse the media, neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post has done a single piece of reporting on the incident. We must go. He previously told the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette on July 1 that the footage would likely be released by the special prosecutor once a prosecutor was appointed. Supporting the Arkansas Times' independent journalism is more vital than ever. Forced, momentarily, to acknowledge the reality that police violence affects people of every race and ethnicity, Sharpton has moved on. Thomas Metthe/The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Temple cops widow: Accused killer shouldnt be allowed to breathe, reveals last goodbye, Video captures chaos after cop fatally shoots 13-year-old driving stolen car, Suspect busted in fatal shooting of Temple cop tried to rob dying officer: police, Temple University police officer fatally shot trying to stop carjacking, fired because he hadnt activated his bodycam. It also enables footage to be redacted if it depicts a person's death, unless it was caused by police. The issue about policing is not about black and white, its about right and wrong.. ET on weekends on MSNBC. Young people killing others in Little Rock is wrong. The suit, which you can read here, also names Lonoke deputy Nathan Rice as a defendant. Young Hunter did nothing wrong, just like George Floyd and others did nothing wrong but if we segregate how we react to the states violence, then we are in the wrong. Dashboard-camera video was released less than a month later on March 17. Martins mother, Lakisha Williams, said she understands what the Brittain family was going through. Redfin Premier. On Thursday, protesters in pick-up trucks did burnouts in the parking lot of the sheriffs office. The Lonoke County Sheriff's Office said it has turned the investigation of the shooting over to Arkansas State Police. Davis was sentenced to a year on his conviction, which he is appealing. More than a month after a Lonoke County deputy shot and killed 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, officials have yet to release body camera footage amid a national conversation about police. Tennessee's 2017 law provides that law enforcement body-camera videos of specifically named situations be treated as confidential, such as videos taken of minors at school. "As the old saying goes, trust but verify," Jacob said. As Brittain pulled into the parking lot of Mahoneys, both Brittain and King opened their doors to let the smoke out. "On the other end -- and this is more recent, after all these controversies and protests over use of force -- you see a more recent wave of states going the opposite direction and actually mandating faster disclosure.". Ive had him for the last five years of his life. The families of Martin and Brittain were accompanied by attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob. Michael Davis near Cabot, Arkansas, United States. It's even more aggravated when it's partial video. 27 June 2021. The law would require all Arkansas police officers to wear a body camera which would be kept turned on during their shift. 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. As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know were dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. According to members of Brittains family, he was working on his truck at around 3 am local time, trying to repair it so that he could make it to his job at Hundley Construction by 6 am. People will see the same video and draw different conclusions. The body camera footage would be available once the case is closed or criminal charges are made, Steinbuch said. Hunter Brittain's uncle: "Nothing would've stopped him in lifeexcept those bullets", Arkansas deputy involved in teen shooting fired for not having bodycam turned on, 27 percent of people killed by police were Black, Rev. Of those deaths 47 were killed by self inflicted wounds and by other cops. They are generally recruited from among the more backward social elements in keeping the function they perform on behalf of the ruling corporate-financial elite. Hunter Brittain was 17 years old when he died. Introduction. , where rallies have continued for three nights. A summary of the affidavit was read by attorney Phillips at the news conference, which established a timeline leading up to the shooting and its aftermath. UPDATE: This is Hunter Brittain. On September 17, attorney Jeff Phillips of the 5th Judicial District, named Special Prosecutor for the case in July, announced during a news conference at the Pope County Courthouse in Russellville, Arkansas that former Lonoke County Sheriffs Deputy Michael Davis had been charged with felony manslaughter in the June 23 traffic stop shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. On June 23, Hunters life was cut short when a Lonoke County sheriffs deputy fatally shot him during a traffic stop. According to Statista.com, the trend of fatal police shootings in the United States seems to only be increasing, with a total 604 civilians having been shot, 108 of whom were Black, in the first six months of 2021. According to MappingPoliceViolence.org, 745 people have been killed by police in the United States this year, of which 251 were white. The case of Hunter Brittain has gained national attention over the past year, with renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump representing the Brittain family. That doesnt mean he or any one of these people deserved to die, but at minimum, it dramatically changes the degree to which race was a relevant factor, if a factor at all. This was the first time I was invited to speak at a service where the victim was white, but as soon as I received the call about Hunters death, I immediately said yes. Maybe well find that out when the investigation is complete. During an interview with investigators, Davis said before he could put his vehicle in park after initiating the traffic stop, he heard the trucks engine rev up and begin to travel southbound in the northbound lane on Arkansas 89 but did not notify dispatch on the radio that he was in pursuit because he realized the truck was attempting to turn left into Mahoneys body shop. Jacob echoed that most jurisdictions in the nation would make such information available, and that it is important that government bodies disclose the truth to the public. [4] The camera was not on during the shooting. Hunter Brittain's life mattered just as much as Andrew Brown's. Say his name, even though he's white. We came here today to proclaim in unity that America, President Biden, the governor of Arkansas and people all over the world will stand up with us and say Hunter Brittains life matters. He led the audience in repeating the chant. Harley Brittain, Hunters uncle, pointed out, This is happening all across the country, and this is happening too close to home for us. We share so much of the same story with our loved one being taken by the gun and taken without justice. Jesse Brittain, Hunters uncle, also spoke at the rally, saying, Id like to say to the black, white, brown communities around the country that its time we unite and come together.. Hunter Brittain, 17, was fatally shot by a White Lonoke County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in a Little Rock suburb on June 23, according to police. Homepage. Hunter was a 17-year-old kid who had the right to live. Under conditions of insurmountable wealth inequality, the Democratic and Republican parties have increased funding for law enforcement, armed departments with military-grade weapons, and provided training for police forces which claim the lives of more than 1,000 people every year. Friends and family of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain gather outside the Pope County Courthouse in Russellville, Arkansas on Friday. Places. Crump invoked other police slaying cases hed joined George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Christian Hall and Hunter Brittain. Recently, I received one such call about a 17-year-old teenager in Arkansas named Hunter Brittain. For Hunter Brittain's family, they feel this transparency has been denied after the teen was killed by a Lonoke County deputy and haven't seen body cam footage. It's time they start letting us know something.". Hunter was white, a fact that may surprise people familiar with the cases I have represented in the past. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. He said that when he saw the lifeless body of his friend lying face down on the ground, it did not appear real to him. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Family of white youth killed by police seeks out attorneys in George Floyd case. 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. 1 year in jail is the maximum sentence for negligent homicide in Arkansas.[9][10][11]. It was at the hospital that Brittain succumbed to his injuries. Are people going to have to fear for their lives again?. Subscribe now or donate for as little as $1 and be a part of the Arkansas Times community. Sergeant Michael Davis pulled 17-year-old Hunter Brittain over along Arkansas Highway 89 at 3:00 a.m. for unknown reasons. Attorney Benjamin Crump (left) holds hands with Rebecca Payne, Hunter Brittains grandmother, as they chant during a rally Friday, July 30, 2021 in front of the State Capitol building in Little Rock. 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