Sheriff's Deputy Involved In Andrew Brown, Jr. Shooting Resigns

ELIZABETH CITY, NC — A deputy placed on administrative leave after he fired his service weapon during the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown, Jr. outside his Elizabeth City home is resigning, Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten II said Friday.

Brown, who was unarmed, was killed April 21 by a gunshot to the back of his head fired by Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office deputies as they attempted to serve an arrest and search warrant on drug charges.

Last month, Pasquotank County District Attorney Andrew Womble said the shooting that led to Brown's death was justified and that no officers would be criminally charged. In announcing the decision, Womble reiterated that he would not release the police body camera footage, either.

Immediately following the incident, seven deputies were placed on administrative leave, but four returned to duty after an internal review indicated they had not fired their guns.

Until this week, three officers — Deputy Daniel Meads, Deputy Robert Morgan and Deputy Aaron Lewellyn — remained on administrative leave, the sheriff said in a statement issued Friday. Meads returned to work Tuesday, June 1. Morgan returned the day after.

"[Lewellyn] has informed this office that he is resigning effective June 30, 2021," Wooten said, adding he would be using accrued leave until then.

SEE ALSO: Solidarity Rallies Set Simultaneously In 7 NC Cities Tuesday

According to early eyewitness accounts, Brown was shot while trying to get away from officers — an allegation that has sparked weeks of protests in Elizabeth City.

Details of the moments that led to the shooting remain under shroud, however, after a North Carolina Superior Court judge denied a request to publically release officer body camera footage of the fatal shooting. Brown's family was shown a heavily redacted 20-second clip of the incident.

Earlier this week, community faith leaders around the state held simultaneous rallies in seven North Carolina cities, including Charlotte, calling for greater transparency through the release of all the officer body camera footage.

"With the local district attorney and sheriff's office refusing to be transparent in this case, North Carolinians have no choice but to raise our voices and keep the pressure on local, state, and federal authorities to bring justice for Andrew Brown, Jr.," rally organizer Repairers of the Breach said.

Attorneys for Brown's family called Womble's refusal to bring charges "an insult and a slap in the face," and called for federal intervention.

The FBI Charlotte field office has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the case.

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