Michael Davis, a former Arkansas deputy, was charged with manslaughter after the murder of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain. According to Kark News, the former deputy stopped Brittain around 3 a.m. on June 23 last year in the parking lot of an auto shop.  

Davis informed state investigators the teen got out of his truck and then “got something out of the back” before approaching the deputy. This led Davis to fire a fatal shot into the teen’s neck, according to the arrest affidavit.  

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“Davis says as he observed the bullet strike Brittain, a container came from Brittain’s hands that originated from the bed of the truck,” according to the complaint. “The container landed on the ground.” 

Davis was previously fired for failing to turn on his body camera during the traffic stop on June 23, NBC News reports. 

Pope County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Phillips, a special prosecutor in the case, left Brittain’s family cheerful as he announced the charge. 

“This defendant will be treated as anyone else,” Phillips said. “This case is going to proceed; emotions will continue to run high.” 

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Devon Jacob are representing the family. Crump is well-known for his work in other cases with the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and George Floyd. 

“These charges are just the first step in the pursuit of justice for Hunter Brittain whose life was tragically ended by this unjustified use of deadly force,” the attorneys said in a statement. “This is the latest example of law enforcement shooting first and asking questions later.”