Family Pushes For Tougher Charges Against Officer Accused Of Killing Teen
TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) -- A fight for justice. Supporters gather to call for harsher charges against the Baltimore County police officer accused of killing 17-year-old Christopher Brown. This as Brown's mother prepares to meet with the state's attorney.
Meghan McCorkell has more.
Ms. Brown says that meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. She is asking for murder charges in her son's case.
Supporters chanted, "My son today; your son tomorrow."
For the past two months, the mother of 17-year-old Christopher Brown has devoted her life to finding justice.
"You have to fight for your children, because if you don't, they can end up exactly where Christopher is," said Brown's mother, Chris.
Her son is dead. His accused killer was an off-duty Baltimore County police officer. Investigators say Officer James Laboard chased down Brown after friends threw rocks at his door. Brown died during a struggle, killed by asphyxiation.
It took the county 10 days to charge Laboard with manslaughter. Supporters are now demanding more severe charges.
"Laboard took a life and he needs to pay for it but he needs to pay for it at second-degree murder," said Marvin "Doc" Cheatham, National Action Network.
Increased charges against the officer isn't the only thing this group is calling for. They want lawmakers to ban police officers from doing anything to restrict someone's airway.
"There's something that he could have done to restrain him other than asphyxiate him. Choking the poor boy to death was not a way to do it," said Mildred Samy with the group Mothers of Murdered Sons.
As for Brown's mother, she dreads the day she comes face to face with James Laboard.
"I don't want to look at the murderer of my child right now," she said.
Brown vows to keep fighting for her son.
Monday is the two-month anniversary of Christopher Brown's death. Activists are promising to hold rallies and events on the 13th of every month until they feel justice is served.
A conference is set for Tuesday to determine a trial date for James Laboard. He faces a maximum of 10 years behind bars on each of the manslaughter charges.
