State autopsy confirms Andrew Brown Jr. died of gunshot to back of the head

An autopsy from the state of North Carolina revealed that Andrew Brown Jr., who was shot and killed by police in Elizabeth City in April, died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

A report from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner described the death as a homicide. The report described the death as caused by a “penetrating gunshot wound of the head.”

The medical examiner also found a low level of methamphetamine in Brown’s blood, saying it likely didn’t play a role in his death. 

The report was first released to multiple news outlets on Thursday. 

Brown was shot on April 21 after deputies from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office attempted to deliver a search warrant and a pair of arrest warrants. He was reportedly shot after attempting to leave the scene.

Pasquotank County District Attorney Andrew Womble shared body camera footage of the shooting last month, the first time the public saw recordings.

The video shows deputies surrounding Brown’s vehicle with guns drawn and demanding he get out of the car. Brown’s car then backs up and moves forward before shots are fired.

Officers continue shooting as the car keeps moving. One of the bullets strikes Brown in the back of the head, killing him.

The report said that emergency medical providers dispatched to the scene found Brown on the sidewalk “pulseless with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in progress.”

“Crew members noted a significant amount of blood near Mr. Brown,” the report said. “Upon assessment, he was noted to have what were believed to be gunshot wounds of the head. Injuries were felt to be non-survivable and he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Seven deputies were placed on administrative leave after the shooting. Womble said none of the officers would be charged.

Attorneys for Brown’s family said in a statement that “despite law enforcement’s and the district attorney’s best efforts to hide the facts in this case and paint Andrew as a villain, we are confident that the truth will be revealed and justice will prevail.”

NEWS ALERT: @AttorneyCrump @Bakari_Sellers @HarryMDJR and Chantel Cherry-Lassiter have released statement in response to the release of autopsy findings in the police killing of Andrew Brown Jr. pic.twitter.com/bQH3UICN1L

— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) June 10, 2021

“We will continue to demand release of the video footage from the day Andrew was killed, and we won’t stop fighting for transparency and accountability from law enforcement and the district attorney. From what we’ve seen thus far from both parties, we have a long way to go,” the attorneys said.

—Update at 3:34 p.m.