• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

Grand Jury Indicts Sheriff’s Deputy in Police Shooting of Unarmed Virginia Man Isiah Brown; Faces Up To 5 Years in Prison

Brian Bell July 20, 2021 Leave a Comment

police shooting
Victim of a police shooting in which the office says he mistook Isiah Brown's phone for a gun

Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Deputy David Turbyfill has been indicted by a grand jury in Virginia for the April police shooting of unarmed Black gay man Isiah Brown.

Turbyfill faces one charge of felony reckless handling of a firearm related to the April 21 incident where he, according to Brown family attorney David Haynes, shot Brown ten times after mistaking a cordless phone held by Brown for a gun.

According to special prosecutor LaBravia Jenkins, Turbyfill's reckless handling of a firearm charge, which is normally a misdemeanor, is being bumped up to a felony due to the level of injuries Brown suffered. According to Haynes, eight bullets were found in Brown's body, causing “serious internal injuries” including “serious injuries to his bowels.” Haynes also stated that Brown suffered a broken leg and underwent at least four surgeries before being released from the hospital in May. Brown is continuing his recovery at home.

County Sheriff Roger Harris drew criticism early in the investigation after telling a group of protestors gathered outside the Sheriff's Office that Turbyfill “actually saved this gentleman's life,” referring to Turbyfill performing CPR on Brown after shooting him.

If found guilty, Turbyfill faces up to five years in prison. “Isiah Brown's life was shattered and changed forever when he crossed paths with David Turbyfill,” Haynes said in a statement to The Hill. “While this indictment doesn't take Mr. Brown's physical pain away, it does signify a measure of justice.”

The April 21 shooting came after Turbyfill responded to a 911 call made by Brown in the early morning hours. Brown argued with his brother about retrieving his car, which had broken down at a local gas station earlier that night, and commented about killing his brother. He denied having a firearm multiple times after initially saying he had one.

Brown exited his mother's home while still on the phone with 911 dispatch when Turbyfill, who had given Brown a ride home after his car broke down earlier that night, encountered him on the road near the home. Bodycam and 911 dispatch audio released by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office show Turbyfill responding to the incident as if he believed Brown had a gun. According to Haynes, Turbyfill mistook the phone Brown was using to speak with 911 dispatch for a gun that Brown was holding to his head and fired multiple shots after telling Brown to stop walking toward him.

Both Virginia State Police and the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office confirmed that Brown was unarmed after the shooting. Turbyfill was placed on administrative leave as the police shooting was investigated.

In response to the indictment, Haynes once again called for the release of “all audio communication between the deputy and dispatch, all video from the scene as well as Turbyfill's employment records and personnel file.” Haynes and the Brown family have made similar pleas in the months since Brown's shooting, calling for complete transparency from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office and filing Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain said records.

Haynes also called for the “immediate termination” of Turbyfill, who had only been employed with the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office for a few months prior to the police shooting.

Police shooting:

Turbyfill's reckless handling of a firearm charge, which is normally a misdemeanor, is being bumped up to a felony due to the level of injuries Brown suffered. According to Haynes, eight bullets were found in Brown's body, causing “serious internal injuries”

When asked for comment by the Free Lance-Star, Spotsylvania Sheriff's Maj. Troy Skebo said the Sheriff's Office had no further comments on the matter. Spotsylvania County Sheriff Roger Harris drew criticism early in the investigation after telling a group of protestors gathered outside the Sheriff's Office that Turbyfill “actually saved this gentleman's life,” referring to Turbyfill performing CPR on Brown after shooting him.

“I believe that the sheriff was reporting to the fact that he performed CPR, as of course he is required and trained to do. But it is incredible that he would make that statement that he saved his life by rendering CPR after he's the one that shot him 10 times,” Haynes said in April.

Police Shooting: Previously on Towleroad

Topics: Featured, News, Policing More Posts About: Virginia, Black Lives Matter, Isiah Brown, Police Shooting

Related Posts
  • Proud Boys Ordered To Pay $1 Million To Church For Vandalizing ‘Black Lives Matter’ Sign
  • Censorship or evolution? ‘Sensitivity readers’ divide publishing world
  • Efforts since George Floyd killing fail to stem US police violence
  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion …Read More »
  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims …Read More »
  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel …Read More »
  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal …Read More »
Previous Post: « India Covid News: Delta Overwhelms Health System, Pandemic ‘Excess Deaths’ at Unbelievable 4.9 Million And Counting
Next Post: The Lil Nas X Nike Case To ‘Litigate’ The Satan Shoe Affair Is Promo for New Kanye-Produced Single ‘Industry Baby’ This Week »

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent

  • Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

    Sophia Bush’s girlfriend ‘proud’ the actress has opened up about coming out as queer

  • Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

    Mel B declares she’ll ‘always be open’ when it comes to her sexuality!

  • Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

    Megan Thee Stallion being sued for ‘forcing cameraman watch her having lesbian sex!’

  • Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

    Mean Girls star Jonathan Bennett recalls the moment his life ‘changed forever’

  • Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

    Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass gift basket to celebrate coming out

  • Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

    Relationship status influences heterosexual women’s sexual prejudice towards lesbians

  • JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

    JoJo Siwa had a challenge transitioning to new grown-up image

  • Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

    Liz Hurley defends lesbian sex scene in new movie that was directed by her son

Partner Links

  • Five Years Ago Today, George Floyd Was Murdered
    May 25, 2020 is a dark day in the history of […]
  • Mike Johnson Says He 'Hasn't Even Heard About' Trump's Unethical Crypto Dinner
    House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) downplayed President Donald Trump's "private" dinner […]
  • Trump FDA Commissioner Complains About 'Throwing Insulin" To People With Diabetes
    Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary argued that insulin […]
  • C&L's Late Night Music Club With ROSÉ - 'On The Ground'
    I was looking for something newish and I found Blackpink's ROSÉ […]
  • Cher on 60 years of fame, making music, movies, writing her memoir and giving back
    Pop icon, movie star and conservationist Cher’s career spans an incredible […]

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Ptown Hacks 2018

Read

  • Travel
  • Film
  • Law – LGBT Rights
  • Columns
  • Specials

About

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

×
×