Family of Christopher Brown Calls For Federal Investigation

The mother of a slain Randallstown teen is calling for a federal civil rights investigation into the June 13 death of her son.

Chris Brown, mother of Christopher Brown, said in an interview Thursday that she plans to ask the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice to review the actions of the Baltimore County Police Department and State's Attorney's office.

"I want to take this out of the hands of the Baltimore County Police Department and the state's attorney's hands," said Chris Brown. "I'm trying to take this to the federal level."

Christopher Brown died June 13 of asphyxiation, according to police, citing a state medical examiner's report.

James Laboard, an off-duty police officer, was by a Baltimore County grand jury. He was after a brief hearing Thursday afternoon.

Laboard is accused of chasing Christopher Brown down after someone threw a paving stone at a door to his Randallstown home, about a block away from where Christopher Brown lived. Police said Laboard found Christopher Brown hiding in some bushes and an altercation ensued that resulted in the teen's death.

Chris Brown, the mother of the teen, said she believes her son's neck was broken.

"Christopher was dead already" by the time resuscitation effort began, Chris Brown said.

The charges against Laboard don't go far enough, she added.

"I didn't ask for the death penalty, I didn't ask for life in prison," Chris Brown said. "I asked for a charge of murder."

Russell Neverdon, a Baltimore attorney representing the Brown family, said he expects to complete and file the complaint no later then Friday afternoon.

"We're talking about an excessive use of force and a 4th Amendment violation," Neverdon said. "[Christopher Brown] was seized and his life was taken and that was a clear violation of his liberties."

A police department spokeswoman could not immediately be reached for comment.

Baltimore County State's Attorney Scott Shellenberger declined to comment on the request for an investigation.

"We will continue to cooperate and inform the Brown family on what is going on in their case and continue to work to keep the lines of communication open," Shellenberger said.