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Connecticut Trooper Acquitted in Shooting of Black Student After Chase

The verdict comes despite criticism over the lack of imminent danger to officers, sparking a debate on police use of force.

State Trooper Brian North, right, shakes hands with his defense attorney, Frank Riccio, after a jury delivered a verdict of not guilty on all counts in Connecticut Superior Court in Milford, Conn., Friday, March 15, 2024. North was acquitted of all charges Friday in the death of Mubarak Soulemane, a community college student with mental illness who was shot as he sat behind the wheel of a stolen car holding a kitchen knife. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media/Pool)
Connecticut State Trooper Brian North testifies during his trial in Connecticut Superior Court in Milford.
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Overview

  • A Connecticut state trooper, Brian North, was acquitted of all charges in the shooting death of Mubarak Soulemane, a Black community college student.
  • The incident occurred after a high-speed chase, with Soulemane shot while holding a kitchen knife in a stolen car.
  • Soulemane, who had mental health issues, led police on a 30-mile chase before being boxed in and shot.
  • The state's inspector general criticized the lack of imminent danger to officers, suggesting de-escalation was possible.
  • Soulemane's family, devastated by the verdict, has a pending lawsuit against the police.