Written by Christina Williams
At press conference today District Attorney Andrew Womble said the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation into the shooting death of Andrew Brown Jr.
Womble says no officers will be charged and that the officers were justified in their actions. He showed the body cam videos publicly for the first time and showed one deputy being pulled over the hood of the car by the acceleration attempt made when Brown tried to flee.
Womble explained that North Carolina state law perceived Brown as a habitual offender with a violent criminal history with many past attempts to evade arrest. When officers attempt to serve a search and arrest warrant and a vehicle is being driven by the suspect it is considered by law to be a felonious weapon.
He stated that during the autopsy of Andrew Brown a bag of Crystal Meth was found in Andrew Brown’s mouth and drugs were found inside the vehicle.
Womble answered many questions from reporters present including whether he would have chosen to end the encounter like the officers did, and he replied that he would have felt justified to fire shots the second his fellow officer was pulled over the hood of the vehicle by Brown.
The complete press conference is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgG1xOOEC0w