Varshan Brown was charged with murder and taken to trial after sheriff’s deputies fatally shot his cousin in a violent drug raid at Brown’s southeast Georgia home.
After hearing four days of evidence and arguments in a Camden County courtroom, a jury convicted Brown, 49, of possessing cocaine and assaulting officers by shooting at them. But jurors concluded the death of his cousin, Latoya James, wasn’t Brown’s fault. They acquitted him of a felony murder charge.
Attorneys for James’ family said the verdict Thursday validates their argument that deputies ultimately were responsible for the 37-year-old Black woman’s death — not only because they shot her, but also for bursting into Brown’s home with little warning in the middle of the night.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
