Florida deputy charged with killing man who had pellet gun
A Florida deputy has been indicted for manslaughter in the 2013 shooting death of Jermaine McBean, who was walking home with an unloaded pellet gun.
Peter Peraza, a Broward County sheriff's deputy who was given an award for bravery for the shooting while the case was investigated, surrendered Friday, prosecutors said. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
Peraza told investigators he fired because he feared for his life.
McBean, a 33-year-old computer engineer, was shot July 31, 2013, in front of his apartment building. But the grand jury only began hearing testimony in the case a week ago.
"It's a very sad day because nothing can replace their loss but they hope it's the first step toward finally achieving some measure of justice," David Schoen, a lawyer for McBean's family, told NBC News.
McBean didn’t point the pellet gun at officers before he was shot, according to a person who called police, NBC reported. A picture of McBean just after he was killed shows him wearing ear buds even though police insisted he didn’t have anything in his ears that would have prevented him from hearing police demands to drop the gun.
"There was not only a crime committed here but a complete cover-up conspiracy going up the chain of command," Schoen told NBC News.
McBean’s family has filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Peraza and Sheriff Scott Israel.
The FBI also is investigating whether McBean’s civil rights were violated, which could result in federal charges.
The case is the latest incident of a law-enforcement officer allegedly wielding unnecessary force against a black man. Other shooting deaths by police have sparked protests in cities across the country, including:
--Jamar Clark, 24, who was shot in the head Nov. 15 in Minneapolis. The Hennepin County prosecutor is presenting the case to a grand jury for possible charges.
--Tamir Rice, 12, who was shot outside a Cleveland recreation center while holding a fake gun. The Cuyahoga County prosecutor is presenting the case to a grand jury for possible charges.
--Laquan McDonald, 17, who was shot 16 times in Chicago on Oct. 20, 2014. Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez charged Officer Jason Van Dyke, who has been suspended without pay, with first-degree murder on Nov. 24.
--Michael Brown, 18, who was shot Aug. 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Mo., as the suspect in a robbery. A St. Louis County grand jury declined to indict the officer and the Justice Department ruled in March that charges weren’t warranted in the case.
--Eric Garner, a Staten Island man choked by police who suspected him of selling illegal cigarettes July 17, 2014. A Richmond County grand jury decided against indicting the officer involved and the Justice Department has launched its own investigation.