Family seeks federal inquiry into Georgia drug raid death

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Attorneys for the household of a Georgia girl killed by gunfire final yr as sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at her cousin’s house are calling for the Justice Division to research, arguing the lethal raid echoes the deadly capturing of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky.

Capturing broke out inside seconds after Camden County deputies knocked down the door of Varshan Brown’s darkened house in Woodbine, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Savannah, simply earlier than 5 a.m. on Might 4, 2021. The officers had a warrant to look the home for medication.

Brown’s cousin, 37-year-old Latoya James, was killed by bullets as deputies and Brown fired weapons at one another. Brown was wounded and later charged with crimes. Native prosecutors introduced no fees towards the deputies after concluding they had been justified in utilizing lethal drive.

Legal professionals for James’ household say there are putting parallels between this case and the 2020 raid by cops in Louisville, Kentucky, that left Taylor lifeless. In each circumstances, officers arrived in the midst of the night time and compelled their approach into properties with little to no warning. And every case concerned a shootout that killed an unarmed Black girl.

The Justice Division filed federal civil rights fees towards 4 Louisville officers earlier this month in connection to Taylor’s loss of life. James deserves related therapy by federal authorities, stated Harry Daniels, an legal professional for the Georgia girl’s household.

“Latoya James was harmless in all facets of this case,” Daniels stated Tuesday. “She was at her cousin’s home. She wasn’t a goal of any investigation.”

A Justice Division spokeswoman, Aryele Bradford, stated the division had no remark.

Shortly after James’ loss of life, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation launched physique digital camera video that confirmed deputies asserting themselves on the house’s darkened door, then instantly forcing their approach inside. A number of gunshots had been fired inside seconds.

The deputy sporting the physique digital camera was carrying a defend that obstructed a lot of the video. It doesn’t present who opened fireplace, and neither James nor Brown could be seen within the three-minute clip.

Attorneys for James’ household insist deputies failed to provide the house’s occupants sufficient time to come back to the door and that Brown opened fireplace not realizing that it was legislation enforcement officers who had compelled their approach inside.

District Legal professional Keith Higgins did not see it that approach. In April, nearly a yr after the capturing, Higgins concluded that the deputies concerned would not face fees.

“Whereas any lack of life is at all times tragic, the officers’ use of drive on this occasion was justified to guard their lives,” Higgins stated in an announcement on the time.

As a substitute, Higgins’ workplace succeeded in persuading a grand jury to indict Brown on a cost of felony homicide, arguing that he was liable for James’ loss of life by firing a gun at deputies.

A spokesperson for the district legal professional’s workplace didn’t instantly return a telephone message Tuesday.

Authorities haven’t stated publicly whether or not it was deputies or Brown who fired the pictures that killed James. Daniels stated prosecutors have advised James’ household that the deadly pictures got here from deputies.

Underneath Georgia legislation, somebody could be convicted of felony homicide in the event that they commit a felony that ends in a loss of life, no matter intent. Brown can also be charged with felony counts of aggravated assault towards peace officers, possessing cocaine with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Brown has pleaded not responsible to the fees. He stays jailed in Camden County.