By Police1 Staff
DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — Police in Broward County are standing in solidarity with a deputy indicted for the shooting death of a man holding an unloaded pellet gun, NBC News reported.
Deputy Peter Peraza was indicted on a manslaughter charge for the July 2013 death of Jermaine McBean, who was shot walking home from a pawn shop carrying an air rifle he had just purchased.
Police said 33-year-old McBean ignored their commands to drop the rifle before pointing it towards officers. Witnesses told the news site McBean never raised his weapon, or heard officers due to headphones seen in his ears in photos taken after the shooting.
Peraza would be the first officer in his county to face criminal charges for fatally shooting a civilian. He has pleaded not guilty.
Peraza was given a bravery award for the shooting, but was later suspended pending outcome of the trial.