Rumain Brisbon

Unarmed 34-year-old Rumain Brisbon was killed by Phoenix officer Mark Rine on December 2, 2014 during a confrontation in which a pill bottle was mistaken for a handgun.

What happened

Phoenix police officer Mark Rine followed Rumain Brisbon after receiving a tip alleging drug activity involving an SUV outside an apartment complex. Brisbon walked away from the vehicle and a struggle developed after Rine attempted to stop him. Rine said he felt a hard object in Brisbon's pocket during the scuffle and believed it was a gun; he shot Brisbon twice. The object was a pill vial, not a firearm. The killing provoked vigils, marches and demonstrations by local community and civil-rights groups. Relatives and witnesses disputed whether force was necessary and sought a more transparent investigation into why a suspicion of drug activity ended in death.

Investigation & findings

The report confirms that Brisbon was unarmed and the object was a pill vial. This research establishes public identification of the officer and investigation, but does not independently establish a later final criminal or civil disposition.

What happened

Investigation & findings

Sources & records