Settlement reached in lawsuit over fatal shooting at Marcus Brown’s house

Anderson Independent-Mail (SC)

Feb. 01--A $10,000 settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed after Leandus Pickens was fatally shot by Anderson funeral home owner Marcus Brown.

The settlement was reached Wednesday, according to electronic court records. Tom Dunaway, an Anderson attorney who represents Pickens' family, confirmed the amount.

Of the pair of civil lawsuits connected to this case, this is the second one to be settled. Brown and his insurance company agreed in 2016 to pay $250,000 to Pickens' estate to settle one of the suits. The suit that was settled Wednesday was brought against Brown's business, the funeral home that bears his name.

Pickens, 27, was shot nearly four years ago, in the early morning hours of April 13, 2014.

Brown told investigators that he shot an intruder who climbed through a living room window in his residence on Greenlake Road near Anderson about 2:30 a.m. He said he didn't realize it was Pickens, whom he had known for more than a decade.

Chrissy Adams, the late 10th Judicial Circuit solicitor, announced on Oct. 1, 2015, that no criminal charges would be filed against Brown. She cited the state's castle doctrine, which allows a homeowner to use deadly force against a person who is forcibly entering a dwelling.

Two months later, Dunaway filed wrongful-death lawsuits against Brown and his funeral home. The suits sought $20 million in damages.

More: Attorney: Witness in Marcus Brown case may have changed story

More: Partial settlement reached in suits involving fatal shooting

One of the suits alleged that Brown caused the wrongful death of Pickens by "negligently and recklessly discharging a firearm." The second suit claimed that Brown "failed to exercise due care" before shooting Pickens.

One of the suits includes a contention that Brown and Pickens "were in a relationship together."

During an interview on the morning after the shooting, Brown told investigators that he and Pickens "were not involved" in a romantic relationship.

Dunaway said he is working to schedule a meeting with Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride and others in hopes that investigators may take another look at the case.

John Skipper was the sheriff at the time of Pickens' death. McBride took office in January 2017.

Dunaway declined to comment further on the details of the meeting he is seeking, saying that he doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize it.

Kirk Brown contributed to this report.

Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NIkieMayo or email her at [email protected]

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