The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and other media outlets have requested footage of the shooting for the past nine months, since the incident happened. 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. In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies typically investigate cases while prosecutors make the decision on whether criminal charges will be filed. 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. 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. Both are representing Brittains family. Highway Patrol trooper on leave after fatal Morton County shooting. 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. After another pre-trial hearing on March 14, the trial will officially begin on March 15. Unfortunately no one was ever trained on what the "if possible" meant. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. 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. Michael Davis, during a traffic stop June 23 near Cabot, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. 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. Hunter Brittain (left) and then-Sgt. 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 investigator with the Arkansas State Police was called to the stand after. "He will be with us in our hearts and I hope everyone will know that and see that as time goes on and we are not going to forget about Hunter," Payne said. Due to that failure, I have terminated the employment of this deputy, the sheriff said in a video statement on Facebook. Davis,. The family of Brittain has hired Devon Jacob and Benjamin Crump to represent them in the case. Moving forward, both Brittain's family and Michael Davis will be involved in separate civil lawsuits against the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office. He told the state police when he was interviewed by them that he shot one time and why. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. The case attracted attention from national civil rights leaders better known for their work with Black Lives Matter. All rights reserved. His attorney, Newcomb, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. And also justice for all of our other brothers and sisters dying at the hands of law enforcement hired to protect and serve us around this country.. They didnt say one word that I know of, he told KATV. 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. Shortly after the shooting, Davis was fired by the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office for breaking their body-camera policy. 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. Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. Davis, Newcomb said. According to the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office, Sergeant Michael Davis initiated the traffic stop at 3 a.m. on June 23. Davis pulled over Hunter Brittain, 17, on June 23, 2021, outside Cabot, a small town 30 miles north of Little Rock. As Brittain did this, Davis shot one round at Brittain in his lower right neck. The civil-rights attorneys also represented the family of George Floyd, who died in 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis. The jurys decision is a declaration that an Arkansas law enforcement officer, in full uniform, unlawfully killed Hunter Brittain, the attorneys said. According to a statement previously released by the Brittain familys attorney, the teen exited his truck to place a blue plastic bottle of antifreeze behind a wheel because the vehicle wouldnt shift into park. 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. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that Davis was also given a $1,000 fine. 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 . 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. Were ready to find out something. The defense also added and went through every reason why Davis feared for his life and fired the gun. 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. Video at arkansasonline.com/mdavis/. Brittains shooting by a Lonoke County sheriffs deputy has drawn the attention of civil rights activists nationally. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. (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. Authorities have released few details about the shooting. The two were test-driving the vehicle about 3 a.m when Davis pulled them over. The prosecution team explaining that Davis "recklessly" shot Brittain who was unarmed and not dangerous, whereas the defense team, emphasized on the fact that in that moment Davis felt like his life was threatened. Family members said Brittain was grabbing a container that held antifreeze to place behind the trucks wheel, to stop it rolling backward. Kwami Abdul-Bey, legislative/political action chairman for the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP, said the measure would include a position at the Arkansas attorney generals office that would be responsible for investigating police shootings or brutality cases. I never expected anything like what happened, especially not just a country boy working on his truck and taking it for a test drive, she 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. 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 . who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriffs deputy. Sharpton eulogized 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, who was shot and killed by a white Lonoke County sheriff's deputy, Sgt. 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. 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. Got a tip? Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, A memorial for Hunter Brittain in Beebe, Arkansas last year. On Nov. 15, former Lonoke County Sgt. Davis claimed in that interview that he shouted at Brittain to "show me our hands." Every state, every locality, is different, Marque Heydari said. 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. Davis has been with the Sheriff's Office since 2013. "I was hoping for a not guilty verdict on both charges. Davis said he shot Brittain once, after the teen exited his truck and. Michael Davis shot and killed 17-year-old Hunter Brittain has been released. 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. 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 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. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Didn't put the truck in park, nothing," Davis says. Sheriff John Staley said that Davis had not turned on his body camera at the start of the traffic stop and only activated the device after the shooting had happened. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? 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. He took a life.. On July 1, over a week after Brittain's death, Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley announced through a Facebook video Thursday that former Sergeant Mike Davis was fired due to policy violations. Were going to take this and see what else [the special prosecutor in the case] has got to say and hopefully this will stick. Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, representing Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. Your life had meaning, youre loved and your family will not stop advocating until we have justice for you, Hunter, he said. 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 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. What were the ramification to the LEO that decided to break their oath?? Michael Davis, during a traffic stop June 23 near Cabot, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. What has been the reaction to the shooting? King, 16 at the time, said the teens had previously used a coolant container to stop the truck from rolling back. He said he never heard any verbal cues from Davis until after the shots were fired. On Sept. 20, Davis was released on a $15,000 bond. 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. Who is Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by Arkansas police? The trial for a former Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy accused of killing an unarmed teenager during a traffic stop happened this week. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Thomas Metthe). Staley noted this was a department policy violation and used that as justification for Davis being fired. 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. The biggest thing about his testimony was that he said he never heard Davis give any verbal cues until after Brittain was shot. Now whats going to happen? Hopefully, Hunter and his untimely death will finish what Hunters brother George Floyd and his death started, Jacob said. Davis and King have said that Brittain jumped out of the truck as soon as he stopped for Davis. 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. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The memorial included calls to pass federal legislation in Floyds name to overhaul police practices. Now that the trial has begun, Brittain's Aunt Mary Robertson is praying that that accountability happens in the coming days. He took the vehicle for a test drive down Highway 89, outside of the city of Cabot, Arkansas, and was pulled over as the car began to smoke and cause a racket. What happened to the officer who shot Hunter Brittain? 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. The issue of policing is not about Black and white, Reverend Al Sharpton said at a eulogy for Mr Brittain. Brttain went to the bed to get something(transmission fluid / anti-freeze) for the truck. the officer fired 1 shot killing the teen. Heres what you need to know. The sentence has resulted in mixed emotions from many parties involved, that all had comments after the verdict. Ex-deputy charged with manslaughter in death of Arkansas teen out on bond. (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. Following Davis' sentence, his former boss, Sheriff Staley shared how tragic he thought the entire incident was and that he respects the jury's decision. The county has not decided whether to grant the hearing, County Attorney Allen Dodson said Wednesday. Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley last week fired Davis for not turning on his body camera until after he had shot Brittain. Devon Jacob, Brittains familys attorney, described the report as unclear. Davis was originally charged with felony manslaughter Sept. 17. As they were getting pulled over, King said they were laughing and thought it was funny because the truck was smoking. Bodycam footage of an Arkansas deputy responding to the scene after former Sgt. His press conference on Friday was brief and he refused to take questions. 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. Staley said the only footage police have is from the aftermath. Phillips was passed the investigative file by the coordinating office July 15, according to an email from McMahan. It makes you concerned that they are looking for a weapon. Newcomb said he isnt concerned by Grahams involvement with investigators. The family of Mr Brittain, who dreamed of being a NASCAR racing driver, was heartbroken over the shooting and called for full transparency from the sheriffs department. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. [2] Killing [ edit] Davis was sentenced to 1-year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. 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 They think that it is not appropriate for anybody who has a conflict of interest to weigh in and deny them due process of a fair and impartial and completely independent investigation as to what happened to their child. 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