Given the wide angle, the video, which was released by the district attorney’s office, is hard to see, but it shows David Brooks Jr. holding what appears to be a gun before being shot.
An officer is heard saying, “Hey bro, drop your gun.” Brooks makes a movement and two officers yell “drop your gun” and then a shot is fired.
The entire incident from the time the officer says “hey bro” to when the shot is fired lasts about five seconds.
The officers then run over to Brooks and one is heard saying, “Hey man, you good?”
There is no body-camera video, as the department does not deploy body-worn cameras to officers.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
The shooting happened near a Dollar General on July 24.
Police responded to the area after someone called 911 reporting that he was walking down the street holding a gun.
Police Chief David Hess said last week that a loaded, sawed-off shotgun was found at the scene. It is illegal to carry a sawed-off shotgun in the state of North Carolina.
David Brooks Sr. told ABC11 on Wednesday that his son’s death will not be in vain.
“I talked to the management of Dollar General. They said they have no problem with him. He’s been in there before with a gun. He’s always been respectful,” Brooks Sr. said.
WATCH:
He called on the police chief to fire the officer.
SEE ALSO: Single shot from Roxboro police killed man who had shotgun, DA says
Brooks’ death sparked marches and vigils calling for justice and rejecting the notion that Brooks’ death was a justified shooting by Roxboro Police.
“You shot him down like a dog in the street! But when the KKK pushed through here — where’s everybody at?” Brooks’ cousin Tanillya Patridge said in a previous interview with ABC11. “You got 30, 50 white people with guns and dogs downtown, where’s everybody at?”
The family told ABC11 that the department was familiar with Brooks because of previous run-ins he had with officers. They said they felt that this particular incident could have been handled better, given the man’s mental health challenges.
WATCH: Dozens march for justice after man killed in Roxboro officer-involved shooting
Roxboro City Council enacted a state of emergency to stop a possible demonstration planned by Brooks’ supporters. The council put a curfew in effect from 5 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday and again from 7 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has been placed in charge of the investigation.
DASH CAM VIDEO SPARKS NEW ROUND OF PROTEST
Hours after the public release of the dash cam video, a large demonstration was held on Old Durham Road — outside the Dollar General store where Brooks was killed. Dozens of demonstrators were confronted by police in tactical gear after the protest spilled into the street. The demonstration ended peacefully.
The demonstrators insist the dash cam video is clear enough to show the shooting was not justified; that Brooks was trying to remove his firearm but was fired upon he had the chance to comply.
“I think that the police know that the video was going to cause outrage,” said Danielle Short, president of The Black Revolutionists, a Roxboro-based social justice group. “And I think they know it’s time for them to take accountability for killing an innocent black man. This man was minding his own business.”
The heavy police presence in Roxboro is apparent the moment you reach the limits of historic downtown. Officers from Roxboro PD were joined by sheriff’s deputies from Person and Orange Counties. Even Hillsborough police officers were helping to enforce the curfew and lockdown.
“I think (the lockdown) is overkill. I think if (police) were not guilty of anything, they would not have to do all this,” said Vee Monique, the vice-president of TBR. “We’re not here to incite a riot. We’re here to protect the citizens because they have failed to do so.”
ABC 11 reached out to Roxboro Police Chief David Hess about the increased police presence Wednesday night – Hess did not immediately return our message. The city’s curfew is set to expire at 6 a.m. Thursday.
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