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. As mourners filed into the high school auditorium Tuesday morning, photos and video of Brittain were displayed on a large screen above his casket, which was decorated with blue and white ribbons, the Chevrolet symbol and Forever Chevy 17. Family members said Brittain dreamed of becoming a NASCAR driver after graduation. 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. Devon Jacob, Brittains familys attorney, described the report as unclear. While it is difficult to wait for answers, it is important that the investigation that occurs is both fair and complete.. 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. Jurors found Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriff's office, guilty in the shooting death last year of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain during a traffic stop. The only one who has been accurate on that is Sgt. 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. Ben Crump, who represented Brittains family said: Hunter deserved better.. 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 . Brittain was fatally shot by a deputy during a traffic stop . 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. 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.". The jury finding Davis guilty of negligent homicide instead of manslaughter, is something that worried Payne, as it means Davis could go back to wearing a badge in the future. 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. The two conflicting narratives were hampered by the fact that Davis body camera was never turned on during the quick encounter. CPR is started almost immediately. Davis turned himself inon Friday, Sept. 17, after the special prosecuting attorney issued an arrest warrant for manslaughter. The teen didnt respond to verbal commands given by the deputy, Necomb said. "We're glad that we're finally at this point. The law states that records, files and information kept, obtained or retained by the lab are privileged and confidential and that only a defendant, attorney of defendant or prosecuting attorney can be granted access to records pertaining to a defendants criminal case.. There were no indications of drug and alcohol use listed on the coroners report. During the trial, King told the jury that Brittain had been working on replacing his transmission all night. Well, wonder no more! 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 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. The biggest thing about his testimony was that he said he never heard Davis give any verbal cues until after Brittain was shot. Crump questioned Grahams involvement in the case in response to inquiries Wednesday by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. On Nov. 15, former Lonoke County Sgt. Davis said he could not see the 17-year-old's hands before shooting. The only thing that bothered me is that they checked with Graham and they wouldnt let us look at the video, Newcomb said. 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. Crump and Jacob also represented the family of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man who died May 25, 2020, while in police custody in Minneapolis. The video was first seen by the public during the first day of Davis' trial. Newcomb has said Brittain was pulled over by Davis because his vehicle was smoking heavily and an engine was knocking. 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. 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. Both were lawyers in George Floyd's murder case. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Who is Hunter Brittain, the 17-year-old killed by Arkansas police? The case attracted attention from national civil rights leaders better known for their work with Black Lives Matter. After a short break, open arguments started around 2:30 p.m. The issue of policing is not about Black and white, Reverend Al Sharpton said at a eulogy for Mr Brittain. King, 16 at the time, said the teens had previously used a coolant container to stop the truck from rolling back. Sadly there is not really anyone who we can point to here in Arkansas who is a quote and quote expert who can talk on this because it is untreaded territory right now. A video from Rice, who arrived within minutes of the shooting, shows King on the ground in cuffs as Davis yells. If there is a conflict of interest that exists and you are aware of that conflict of interest and you participate then it certainly would appear to the public that there is a hint of impropriety, Crump said. Michael Davis to spend a year in jail but acquitted of manslaughter over death of Hunter Brittain, 17, during June traffic stop. The jury was asked a series of questions related to law enforcement and their opinions. Davis, Newcomb said. 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. He's still driving on his way to the scene. Davis, who was originally charged with felony manslaughter, fatally shot Brittain who was test-driving his truck after working on it all night. 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. Michael Davis took the stand as the defense's last witness. 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. Were going to take this and see what else [the special prosecutor in the case] has got to say and hopefully this will stick. Brittain was shot by a Lonoke County Sheriff's Deputy during a traffic stop on June 23. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. 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. Without all the evidence I cannot make any determination on whether the shooting was proper.. 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. In Arkansas, law enforcement agencies typically investigate cases while prosecutors make the decision on whether criminal charges will be filed. 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.. 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. 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. 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. Melissia McMahan, who is the Brittain familys mail carrier and knew the teen since he was a toddler, said she had thought about the need for police reform before Brittains death but hadnt thought it was something her own community would face. 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. 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 . Mike Davis plead not guilty to felony manslaughter in the death of Hunter Brittain. Crump previously released a statement that Brittain was shot three times by Lonoke County sheriffs Sgt. 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. Michael Davis guilty of negligent homicide in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. They added that cops are taught "hands kill" and if you can't see the persons hands, it could be a problem. The investigation of the shooting was quickly turned over to the Arkansas State Police. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Some of Brittains family members have said a witness to the shooting claims Davis didnt offer verbal commands before the shooting. 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. Both are representing Brittains family. Floyd died in May last year when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin the handcuffed Black mans neck to the ground. Once he gets back? She said that is easier for larger prosecuting offices to implement. 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. The former deputy said Brittain wasn't listening and his hands were in the back of the truck and that's when Davis fired at Brittain. I didnt hear it and it happened so fast.. The document says what it says, Jacob said. 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. When Brittain was shot, Davis said that's when he saw a container in Brittain's hands that fell to the ground. One bullet can go through and cause injury in more than one location, Newcomb said. (Photo courtesy of Arkansas State Police). He said he never heard any verbal cues from Davis until after the shots were fired. 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. 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. I dont want to jeopardize this case, its too important, he said. Once it happened to my sons best friend, I said it could happen to my son so it was too close to home to not do anything about it., Dozens of people gathered outside the sheriffs office after the memorial service for a rally with Brittains family, attorneys and the NAACP. While the verdict isn't something they agree with, the Brittain family said they do accept it. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? King said he never heard any commands from Davis before the gunshot. Brittain was up late working on the vehicles transmission before taking the test drive, family members have said. "I was hoping for a not guilty verdict on both charges. Former Arkansas deputy Michael Davis was found guilty of negligent homicide in the shooting death of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. Newcomb, a Little Rock attorney who often represents police officers, requested a grievance hearing on behalf of Davis from Lonoke County. 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. Brittain was up late working on the vehicles transmission before taking the test drive, family members have said. Authorities have released few details about the shooting. 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. What happened the night Hunter Brittain died? Attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, representing Brittains family, criticized the sheriff for not firing Davis over the shooting itself. Davis was sentenced to 1-year in jail plus a $1,000 fine. 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. He said each prosecutors office has to make its own determination on how to handle police shootings. A cop shot and killed Hunter Brittain as the 17-year-old was trying to grab an antifreeze jug from his car. If they make the wrong determination, there is a good chance they will not be reelected, 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! He said Davis gave verbal commands directing Brittain stay in the vehicle. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It wont require a recusal, Abdul-Bey said. The civil rights attorneys, who represented George Floyds family after Minneapolis police killed him in May 2020, said: Hunter deserved better. 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 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. Brittain was test-driving a pickup truck with his cousin that the two spent the night tinkering on at a local repair shop. 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