The Killing of Andrew Brown Jr.

On the morning of April 21, 2021, seven Pasquotank county sheriff’s deputies went to the Elizabeth City residence of Andrew Brown Jr. to serve two arrest warrants and a search warrant. Within seconds of their arrival, Brown tried to flee and three officers fired, fatally shooting Brown.

Brown’s family and their attorneys said Brown’s death was unjustified. The district attorney said  Brown threatened the officers’ safety, which allowed them to legally shoot at Brown’s moving car.

The killing catapulted the small town of about 18,000 residents into the national spotlight. Along with my colleague, Jordan Wilkie, I covered the immediate response to the killing and the legal issues in the case.

Candles outside 421 Perry Street in Elizabeth City where Andrew Brown, Jr. was shot and killed. Jordan Wilkie / Carolina Public Press.