Deputy charged with shooting man who called 911 for help

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Virginia – A Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy was charged Thursday with a felony charge relating to the murder of a black man at his home after calling 911 for assistance.

Special prosecutor LaBravia Jenkins has said that a special grand jury has indicted David Turbyfill with the misdemeanor of careless handling of a firearm, the Free Lance Star reported. The charge is usually a misdemeanor, but in this case Jenkins said it was a felony due to Isiah Brown’s significant injuries.

Brown was shot dead on April 21 at his home after calling 911 for help. Part of the 911 call issued shortly after the shooting indicates that the deputy believed Brown, who was speaking on a cell phone, had a gun. After the dispatcher said his complaint did not merit a call to 911, Brown mentioned a gun and commented on his brother’s murder.

He later said he didn’t have a gun and state police said they couldn’t find one on Brown. The member made comments such as “drop the gun” and “stop coming towards me” before firing.

Brown received 10 bullets and eight bullets were found in his body, his lawyer, David E. Haynes said.

Turbyfill, who has been on administrative leave, faces up to five years in prison if convicted. We don’t know if he has a lawyer.