Indiana Police and Prosecutor's Office Accused of Fabricating Evidence in Fatal Shooting of Black Man Holding Phone

Body camera footage has revealed La’Taurus Harrison clutching a phone just before an Indiana sheriff’s deputy discharged 10 rounds, fatally wounding the 44-year-old Black man. Despite the absence of a visible gun in the footage released by Madison County Sheriff’s Department, the local Prosecutor’s Office exonerated the deputy, asserting Harrison had brandished a handgun without any supporting visual evidence.Harrison's mother has since initiated a lawsuit against the implicated deputies, including Mason Brizendine, who fired the shots, alleging they conspired to misrepresent the events of that day. The suit additionally names deputies Grant Stephens and Chris Burkhardt, along with Madison County itself.As deputies at the scene issued conflicting orders, it raises questions about their protocols—none shouted "gun." Brizendine’s actions ensued after he claimed Harrison reached for something in his pocket. The aftermath has devastated Harrison’s family, particularly his mother and 13-year-old daughter, impacting them profoundly.