According to state police, Trooper Brian North surrendered Tuesday evening to the state inspector at the Bethany state police barracks. North was released on $50,000 bail and placed on administrative leave. His police powers were also suspended.
North shot Mubarak Soulemane, 19, in January 2020. Soulemane was sitting in the driver’s chair of a car in West Haven. Police then boxed the vehicle. North claimed to have feared that Soulemane would attack other officers with his knife.
Soulemane’s family, NAACP, and other groups stated that North, who is White, shouldn’t have shot Soulemane. He was Black because he was surrounded by police and couldn’t escape. They said that Soulemane was carrying a knife and was in the car alone. Police should have tried to calm the situation down.
Soulemane’s mother Omo Mohammed said that Trooper Brian North was taken into custody. She also provided a statement from her lawyers. “I want him to be convicted and sent in jail.”
According to his family, Soulemane was a student at a community college who suffered from schizophrenia. Mohammed is suing North and the other officers involved in the incident for wrongful death.
“The family of Mubarak Soulemane was very happy that Trooper Brian North who killed Mubarak in West Haven in Jan 2020 may be brought to justice,” Mark Arons (a lawyer for Soulemane) said in a statement. It’s a long journey ahead. It’s a great day.
North didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. North was reached at the phone number listed. Jeffrey Ment, his lawyer, received a message as well. North is due to appear in Milford Superior Court on May 3.
The office of Inspector General Robert Devlin released Wednesday’s report stating that the shooting was not justified.
According to the report, “At the moment Trooper North fired his gun, neither he nor anyone else was in imminent danger from serious injury or death by a knife attack at Soulemane’s hands.” “Further, it was unreasonable to believe that people were in such danger.”
North also gives a long statement on the shooting in the report. North stated that Soulemane was holding the knife “in an aggressive manner” and seemed to be ready to attack other officers outside the vehicle.
“Based upon these circumstances, I believed (the other officers), were at imminent danger of serious physical injury, death, and could have received a stab wound to the neck or face when they tried to enter the vehicle and take out the suspect. “I discharged my duty firearm in order to end the threat.
In a statement, the Connecticut State Police Union stated that it was disappointed that North’s inspector general’s office (which investigates police use deadly force) decided to bring him in court. The union supported North’s actions.
According to the union, North was forced to make a split second decision in these highly volatile and evolving circumstances. Trooper North was putting his life at risk to ensure the safety of others while he fulfilled his oath to serve his country.
Soulemane tried unsuccessfully, on the day of the shootings, to steal a cellphone from Norwalk’s store. He then fled in a car that he had stolen from a Lyft driver.
According to the report, Soulemane led police in a chase that lasted nearly 30 miles (48 km) from Norwalk and West Haven. The chase reached speeds of 100 mph (161 kilometers per hour) on Interstate 95.
Police in Norwalk stopped following Soulemane at one time due to the dangers. However, state troopers, including North resumed the pursuit after Soulemane had apparently struck multiple vehicles.
State police in West Haven stated that Soulemane made an exit and rear-ended a vehicle belonging to a civilian. He was then immediately taken into custody by police. He refused to get out of his car after being told by police officers.
Video from the state police body camera shows a West Haven officer smashing the passenger window of the car. A trooper then shoots Soulemane using a stun gun which did not work.
State police stated that North fired seven shots through the driver’s window with his handgun when Soulemane showed the knife.
North is the third Connecticut officer to be charged with a fatal shooting.
Scott Smith, a New Milford officer, pleaded guilty in negligent homicide. He was sentenced for two years probation in 1998 for the fatal shooting of Franklyn Reid (19-19). Smith committed suicide in 2013.
Robert Lawlor, a Hartford officer, was initially charged with manslaughter. However, he was later found not guilty in the shooting death of Jashon Bryant in 2005.
Devin Eaton, a Hamden officer was shot in a non-fatal incident in 2019. was taken into custody and pleaded not guilty to felony attack in January. Eaton is awaiting sentencing. He could spend up to 18 months prison time under his plea agreement.
