An Arkansas sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a teenager after a traffic stop early Wednesday, officials said.
The Lonoke County sheriff’s deputy opened fire on Hunter Britain, 17, after he stopped a truck Britain was driving outside an auto shop in Cabot at about 3 a.m., according to Arkansas State Police.
Authorities offered no details about what led to the shooting but said its Criminal Investigation Division has opened a probe.
“The circumstances of the traffic stop and what may have led up to the deputy firing his gun at Britain will be documented in the investigation,” the news release said.
“The investigative file upon completion will be turned-over to the Lonoke County prosecuting attorney to decide whether facts and evidence in the case are consistent or not with Arkansas laws related to the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer.”
Britain’s family said the teen and a friend had been taking the truck back from a test drive after repairing its transmission at the shop, which belongs to a friend’s family, local news station THV11 reported.
The deputy had a bodycam, but it wasn’t clear if video was rolling at the time of the shooting, according to THV11.
The owner of the shop, who didn’t witness the traffic stop or shooting, told KARK that the truck was operating erratically because of its transmission issues and may have even hit the deputy’s vehicle. The owner’s nephew had apparently been a friend of Britain’s and was there as the incident unfolded, according to KARK.
The deputy, a sergeant with the department since 2013, is on administrative leave until the investigation is completed.