City releases new documents from Brandon Tate-Brown case

Brandon Tate-Brown family dropping lawsuit against police over killing
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The city posted investigative files relating to the December death of Brandon Tate-Brown online Tuesday, revealing for the first time the names of the officers involved in the shooting — which has been a central demand of protesters.

Tate-Brown was pulled over in Mayfair on Dec. 15 by 15th district officers Nicholas Carrelli and Heng Dang, both rookie officers, the new records show.

According to the documents, after Dang spotted a gun inside the car, they ordered Tate-Brown out, and during a struggle, Carrelli fired, shooting Tate-Brown fatally in the head.

The documents were posted publicly Tuesday morning.

“In accordance with the City of Philadelphia’s ongoing efforts for transparency in governance, Mayor Michael A. Nutter has authorized the release of materials stemming from the investigation of the December 15, 2014 police discharge involving Brandon Tate-Brown,” said a message from City Hall linking to the documents.

The records were also requested by Tate-Brown’s mother in a lawsuit filed against the city demanding that it comply with police reforms ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice in a recent report.

D.A. Seth Williams announced in March that he would not charge the officers, calling Tate-Brown’s death “a tragedy, not a crime.”

Ten activists protesting the decisionthat same night at a community meeting between the public and law enforcement were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

They are scheduled for a summary trial Wednesday.

Read the investigative documents posted by the city on Dropbox.