ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Elizabeth City declared a state of emergency Monday, ahead of the anticipated release of body camera footage in the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown.
One or more Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed Brown, 42, last week while executing search and arrest warrants. Neighbors reported hearing multiple shots fired, and one eyewitness said Brown was shot as he tried to drive away.
Protesters have since called for officers’ body camera footage to be released. Under a 2016 law, the release of such footage requires a court order.
In the declaration, the city wrote that they will file a formal request with the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s office on Monday for the body camera footage to be released, adding that “it seems likely that the video and audio footage will be released in the very near future.”
Pasquotank County Attorney R. Michael Cox said in a statement that the county is working to blur “some faces on the video” before it is showed to the Brown family. He said this is allowed by state law “when necessary to protect an active internal investigation.”
“We hope this occurs today, but the actual time will be driven by the completion of the redactions,” he said.
Mayor Bettie Parker said in the declaration that there could be a period of civil unrest after the body camera footage is released. The declaration will help coordinate resources to preserve public safety, she said.
The declaration took effect 8 a.m. ET Monday and will remain in effect until it is rescinded.
