WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- Court records filed on Tuesday show that the FBI is investigating the police shooting of computer engineer Jermaine McBean, who was shot by police in Broward County, Florida.
News of the investigation come as the Broward Sheriff's Office is looking to stop a federal lawsuit filed by McBean's family who is arguing that police covered up crucial circumstances of McBean's death and may have lied under oath.
The investigation was requested by the U.S. Justice Department, which wants to know whether McBean's civil rights were violated.
McBean was shot when he walked through his apartment complex with an unloaded air rifle resting on his shoulders.
The Broward deputy who shot him, Peter Peraza, claims that McBean refused to lower his weapon despite clearly hearing the commands to do so. However, a recently surfaced photograph taken by a local nurse of McBean's bleeding body alongside two deputies, shows that he was wearing earbuds. These were found in McBean's pocket after he was transported to the hospital.
McBean's family claims that Broward deputies removed the earbuds from McBean to conceal a mistake.
Shortly thereafter, Peraza was given a bravery award.
McBean stood accused of pointing the rifle at officers and being responsible for his own death through his actions. The Broward Sheriff's Office insists there was no cover-up.
