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Virginia Cop Charged With Felony in Shooting of Unarmed Gay Black Man

Isiah Brown
Isiah Brown

Isiah Brown was critically injured in the shooting, for which Spotsylvania County Deputy David Turbyfill faces a felony charge.

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A deputy sheriff in Virginia has been charged with a felony in the shooting of an unarmed gay Black man in April.

A grand jury Thursday charged Spotsylvania County Deputy David Turbyfill with felony reckless handling of a firearm, local newspaper The Free Lance-Star reports. Reckless handing is usually a misdemeanor charge, but because of the severe injuries suffered by Isiah Brown, Turbyfill faces a felony charge, Special Prosecutor LaBravia Jenkins said.

Turbyfill had given Brown a ride home the night of April 21 after Brown's car broke down. About an hour later, Brown called 911, saying he was worried about his car and was in a dispute with his brother over the keys; at one point he mentioned having a gun and wanting to kill his brother. But then he said at least twice that he didn't have a gun. When Turbyfill responded to the call, he shot at Brown, who was holding a phone, which Turbyfill apparently thought was a gun. Virginia State Police investigated and said they found no gun on the premises.

Ten bullets were fired at Brown and eight lodged in his body, said his attorney, David Haynes. He was critically injured and was hospitalized until May 25. The 32-year-old is continuing to recover at home.

"Isiah Brown's life was shattered and changed forever when he crossed paths with David Turbyfill," Haynes said in a statement released to The Hill. "While this indictment doesn't take Mr. Brown's physical pain away, it does signify a measure of justice. We look forward to the successful prosecution of David Turbyfill."

Turbyfill has been on administrative leave since the incident. He faces a sentence of up to five years in prison if convicted of the felony charge.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.