$30M federal lawsuit filed in Andrew Brown Jr. case

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Attorneys for the family of Andrew Brown Jr. have filed a $30 million federal civil lawsuit in his death.

The attorneys are scheduled to talk about the lawsuit during a press conference at 12 p.m. in Elizabeth City.

Brown Jr. was shot and killed by Pasquotank County deputies while behind the wheel of his car on April 21.

Armed deputies were serving drug-related warrants at Brown’s home when they surrounded Brown in his BMW. His car backed up and moved forward before several shots were fired at and into his vehicle. Attorneys for his family have repeatedly said Brown was trying to get away, while authorities have said he was using his car as a weapon.

Local district attorney Andrew Womble claims Brown’s vehicle hit one of the deputies twice during the encounter.

During the 44 seconds between the time deputies surrounded Brown and when he crashed into a tree, the deputies fired 14 shots at him. It was later discovered he did not have a weapon in his car.

The state’s official autopsy found Brown was killed by a shot to the back of his head. He was hit one other time in the right shoulder. Multiple other bullet holes were found throughout Brown’s vehicle.

Womble declined to file any charges against the deputies, saying “Mr. Brown’s death, while tragic, was justified, because Mr. Brown’s actions caused three deputies with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office to reasonably believe it was necessary to use deadly force to protect themselves and others.”T

Two deputies involved in the shooting have returned to work for Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office. One other deputy involved resigned from the force.

(WATCH: Judge denies requests to release body cam video to public in fatal shooting of Andrew Brown)

Judge denies requests to release body cam video to public in fatal shooting of Andrew Brown

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