A jury found Varshaun Brown not guilty of the murder of his cousin — a 37-year-old who was fatally shot during a drug raid conducted at his home by Georgia authorities a few years ago.
In the early hours of May 4, 2021, Camden County deputies used a battering ram to burst into Brown’s Woodbine, Georgia, residence to execute a search warrant. Once inside, gunfire ensued, leading to the occupants getting shot and, ultimately, Latoya James’ death. She had no connection to the warrant that was carried out that morning, and according to news reports, she was sleeping when it happened.
Her family compared her death to the death of Breonna Taylor, an essential worker who was fatally shot by police officers in her Louisville, Kentucky, apartment in 2020. Her death, along with those of other Black people killed at the hands of law enforcement, sparked global protests against racism and police brutality.
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Bodycam footage shows deputies quickly walk onto Brown’s property and yell, “Sheriff’s Office. Search warrant. Come to the door.” Moments after they entered, multiple shots rang out. Throughout the video, one of the deputies’ shields is obstructing the view inside the home. Authorities argued that Brown started the shooting. As First Coast News reported, in court, prosecutors said that James would be alive if Brown hadn’t shot at the deputies.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.
Last year, James’ family filed a $25 million federal lawsuit against Camden County deputy sheriff Jim Procter and the other deputies linked to the incident. It alleges that deputies gave unarmed James merely 2.5 seconds “to answer or come to the door before they breached the door and killed her.” Per the lawsuit, James was struck in the…
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