Deputy pleads not guilty in fatal shooting of Arkansas teen

A former Arkansas sheriff's deputy pleed not guilty Monday in fatal shooting of a white teenager whose death has drawn attention of civil rights activists.

Michael Davis entered plea to a felony count of manslaughter in June 23 shooting of 17-year-old Hunter Brittain, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported .

Davis shot Brittain during a traffic stop outside an auto repair shop along Arkansas Highway 89 south of Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) norast of Little Rock. Davis was charged in September in Brittain's death.

Davis told investigators he shot Brittain once in neck after teen reached into back of his truck and did not comply with his commands to show his hands, according to Davis' arrest affidavit. Brittain was holding a container — which his family members have said held antifreeze — and no evidence of firearms were found in or near truck, affidavit said.

A passenger with Brittain said he and teen h been working on transmission for Brittain’s truck. passenger told investigators he never heard Davis tell teen to show his hands, according to affidavit.

Davis, who is white, was fired by Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley in July for not turning on his body camera until after shooting occurred. Staley said re’s no footage from shooting, only aftermath.

A jury trial for Davis was set for March 15, with a status hearing set for Jan. 24 and a pre-trial hearing on March 14.

Brittain's death has drawn attention of civil rights activists, and was eulogized by Rev. Al Sharpton and attorneys for George Floyd's family. Floyd died in May last year when a white Minneapolis police officer used his knee to pin handcuffed Black man’s neck to ground. His death sparked nationwide protests over policing and racial inequality.