The FBI has opened an investigation into the fatal 2013 shooting by a South Florida sheriff's deputy of a man who was carrying an air rifle and may have been listening to music through earbuds.
The FBI's top agent in South Florida told Broward Sheriff Scott Israel about its investigation into Jermaine McBean's death in a recent letter. Agent George Piro's letter was included in a filing Tuesday in a civil lawsuit filed by McBean's family.
State prosecutors are also investigating and intend to take the case before a grand jury.
McBean was shot by Deputy Peter Peraza after 911 callers reported a man carrying what appeared to be a real rifle down a busy street. McBean's family says earbuds prevented him from hearing commands to drop the air rifle.
