North Carolina sheriff’s department reaches $3M settlement with family of unarmed Black man fatally shot in his car

A North Carolina sheriff’s department will pay $3 million to the family of an unarmed Black man who have described his killing as an “execution.”

Andrew Brown Jr., 42, was sitting in his car near his home in Elizabeth City on April 21, 2021, when police showed up to serve drug-related arrest and search warrants, according to the official story.

Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office deputies surrounded the car with weapons drawn, according to video released by police, and Brown began to back his car up, at which point one of the officers fired a shot through his front windshield.

Brown continued to try to drive away and the deputies opened fire.

He was hit four times in his right arm and then a fifth, fatal shot to the back of the head.

Rev. Al Sharpton speaks during the funeral for Andrew Brown Jr. (Gerry Broome/)

The district attorney declined to press charges against the officers, saying they were justified because Brown used his car as a deadly weapon.

Brown’s family, though, has called his killing an “execution” and said the man was “ambushed.” In July, they filed a $30 million civil lawsuit against the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, accusing the officers of “intentional and reckless disregard of his life.”

“Andrew Brown Jr. was a devoted father who wanted his children to have the things he didn’t,” the family said in a statement through lawyers Monday after announcing the settlement.

“While no settlement could ever fill the hole his death left in their hearts, this agreement is about providing for those children’s futures, securing their education, and ensuring their dreams didn’t die with their father. No settlement can alleviate the loss to Mr. Brown’s children.”

With News Wire Services