Demonstrators call for justice, healing on one-year mark of Andrew Brown's death

The shooting sparked nights of protests and gained national attention.

Demonstrators and family members gathered on Thursday to demand justice and healing and renewed calls for transparency from law enforcement agencies and the full release of body camera footage.

"Today is very emotional for this community," said Keith Rivers, with Pasquotank County NAACP. "Today is emotional for the Brown family."

Did Andrew Brown's criminal history justify manpower, firepower used to serve warrant?

Brown's cousin, Jadine Hampton, made the more than 500-mile trip from Atlanta to pay his respects.

"It's not a celebration ... it's just one year. We're still in pain — his family, his kids. For him to be taken away the way that he wa is definitely considered an injustice," said Hampton.

"We understand nothing can bring him back. However, accountability can be had," said Mia Ferebee, the mother of Brown's oldest children.

Demonstrators said Brown's death has sparked an awakening in making progress in the coastal city.

"We've had the opportunity to build the Citizen Advisory Committee, which is showing the county commissioners want to move forward. They want to put things in place to help build bridges in the community," said Rivers.

"This is not a moment but a movement," he said.

Some in the community, including Brown's aunt, Glenda Brown, said they're keeping their attention on officials involved in the case by rallying and marching.

"We need to know exactly what happened. We've very disappointed it's been 365 days and we still haven't see the video and that's the main thing we want to see is the video," she said. "The family members have gotten closure but as far as the citizens of this town, it has really divided the town."

Womble shared only portions of the body camera footage available to support his ruling.

WRAL News, along with other media outlets, are still waiting for the full release of body-cam video. The case appears to have stalled with a judge transfer. That case could be the deciding factor on whether to publicly release the State Bureau of Investigation report on the shooting and the body camera video in its entirety.

Even in the absence of charges, Brown's family said the passion still burns for justice.

"We're still going to do what we have to do to keep lifting up Andrew," said Glenda Brown.