Not In Our Name says the circumstances did not justify firing
Not In Our NamePublic-interest organization in an analysis of the case
Not In Our Name said the cited circumstances did not justify firing into Brown’s car and criticized the shooting’s omission from police reports.
“It is not a reason to fire into his car, and it is not why the shooting was left out of two police reports.”
Analysis
Where this statement fits
Was HSI Agent Benedict Bebber justified in firing at Phillip M. Brown?
On October 17, 2025, Homeland Security Investigations agent Benedict Bebber fired multiple rounds at Phillip M. Brown's Dodge Durango during a traffic stop on Benning Road in Washington, D.C. Brown was not hit. The Department of Homeland Security said Brown deliberately tried to run officers down and that Bebber fired defensive shots while fearing for his life and others. Brown's lawyers said no officer was in the vehicle's path and pointed to bullet strikes through the driver's side. Two released Metropolitan Police Department body-camera clips capture the gunfire and aftermath but do not show Bebber firing. A judge dismissed Brown's fleeing charge for insufficient evidence, and the U.S. Attorney declined to prosecute Bebber. The dispute is whether Brown's vehicle presented an imminent threat when Bebber fired.
Source and context
Analysis
About this source
The organization analyzes reporting and public records about the October 2025 shooting of Phillip M. Brown.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The article reviewed public reporting and records about the Benning Road shooting.
After the quotation
It concluded that the available explanation neither justified the gunfire nor explained omissions from reports.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The organization expressly rejects the reason offered for shooting and condemns the lack of disclosure.
- Recorded on
- Published here
More from this case
Read the full caseAmnesty condemns the shooting
Amnesty International
“unlawful use of lethal force”Read statement
Merawi Gerima demands charges in the Brown shooting
“It shows in fact that Homeland Security was doing exactly what they did in Minneapolis with Renee Good, using the vehicle as a pretext to try and murder somebody in cold blood. We want charges. We want federal agents charged, we want MPD and investigators charged. You can't nearly murder someone in D.C. and get to go back to work, continue patrolling the streets of D.C.”Read statement
Bernadette Armand says the shooting lacked justification
“Though MPD only released a short clip of its officer's BWC footage, it underscores what attorneys for Mr. Brown asserted since the shooting—he was nearly killed by his own government for no reason.”Read statement
Share or embed this statement
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the statement page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Not In Our Name says the circumstances did not justify firing
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/1457-not-in-our-name-said-the-cited-circumstances
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Not In Our Name says the circumstances did not justify firing". First published: 2026-09-22. Last updated: 2026-09-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/1457-not-in-our-name-said-the-cited-circumstances