Federal Agent Shooting of Unarmed Man in D.C. sparks Cover-Up Allegations and calls for Transparency
Washington, D.C. – A routine traffic stop in October has ignited a firestorm of controversy in the nation’s capital, centering on allegations of a cover-up following the shooting of an unarmed man by a federal agent. The incident, involving 33-year-old Phillip Brown, has prompted protests, an internal police investigation, and growing demands for greater transparency in the coordination between D.C. Metropolitan Police and federal law enforcement agencies.
The Incident: A Traffic Stop Gone Wrong
On October 17th,Phillip Brown was pulled over on Benning Road for a missing front license plate. According to police reports, Brown attempted to evade the stop. However, the situation escalated dramatically when, as his vehicle came to a halt, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent reportedly drew their weapon and discharged it at least three times into Brown’s car.
“One of the bullets passed through the collar of Brown’s jacket,” stated Bernadette Armand,Brown’s attorney,highlighting the near-miss. photos of Brown’s vehicle clearly show bullet holes in the car door and front passenger seat, a chilling testament to the potential for tragedy.”If there were a passenger in this seat, they would be dead,” a protester powerfully stated during a demonstration outside Metropolitan Police Department headquarters on Tuesday.
Despite the clear evidence of gunfire, initial police documentation paints a strikingly different picture. The original arrest report, and accompanying charging documents, made no mention of the agent firing their weapon, even stating that no shots were fired at all.Brown was initially arrested and charged with fleeing from police, charges that were swiftly dismissed.
Allegations of a Deliberate Cover-Up
The discrepancies between the physical evidence and the initial police reports have fueled accusations of a deliberate attempt to conceal the truth. During Brown’s court hearing, a D.C. police officer who authored the initial arrest report testified under oath that he was instructed by a superior not to include any details regarding the shooting in his report.
This revelation prompted a small but vocal group of protesters to gather outside MPD headquarters, demanding accountability and an end to what they perceive as a systemic cover-up. “You cannot be a part of a ‘Make America Safe’ initiative when you’re shooting at unarmed people in a routine traffic stop,” Armand asserted. “The feds aren’t making DC streets safer. They’re making them more dangerous.”
MPD Response and Ongoing Investigation
Responding to inquiries from News4, the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) acknowledged the incident and confirmed an internal investigation is underway. While declining to comment on the officer’s testimony regarding the alleged directive, MPD provided a separate report filed by a different officer detailing the HSI agent’s discharge of their weapon.
According to an official MPD statement, the internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the “Officer involved Shooting” by the HSI agent. The case will also be independently reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, ensuring a degree of external oversight.
Trauma and Pursuit of Justice
The incident has understandably left Brown deeply traumatized. “Mr. Brown has traumatized,” explained E. Paige White,another attorney representing Brown.”As a Black man stopped by the police, it is indeed already a terrifying situation, but I don’t think that anybody is prepared to see or hear or feel gunshots coming through their vehicle. It is certainly a traumatizing event, and he is coping as best as one can.”
Brown’s legal team is now considering a civil lawsuit and is actively seeking access to any available body-worn camera footage. They are also advocating for increased transparency in the protocols governing collaboration between D.C. police and federal agents.
“The problem with the lack of transparency is: It becomes very hard to advocate for your rights and get justice when you don’t no who’s in charge, when the evidence is being covered up, and you don’t know where accountability lies in an incident like this,” Armand emphasized.
Federal Silence and Upcoming Oversight Hearing
Despite repeated requests for comment, both the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S.Attorney’s Office have remained silent on the matter. This lack of response further fuels concerns about a potential cover-up and a lack of accountability.
The D.C. Council is scheduled to hold its first public oversight hearing on the increasing federal presence in the city on Wednesday morning.
