Teen's family questions deputy's claim

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - The family of a teen who was hit and killed by and Escambia County Florida Deputy wants answers.

Aaliyah Howard, 15, was walking with her friend at 4 a.m. when Deputy Ty Brewton hit them. Howard’s family said they don’t think they are getting the whole truth from the sheriff’s office.

The incident was recorded on Brewton’s dash cam, but the sheriff said they can’t release the video.

Edna Howard said 15 years was just too short.

That’s how long she had with her granddaughter Aaliyah Howard. Howard and her friend Louise Johnson were walking down Mobile Highway in Pensacola at 4 a.m. Monday. Edna Howard said they were walking to her house after babysitting.

"I get up and sit out there on the porch since she has been gone, and I look at the kids and say, ‘She should be there.’ I miss my granddaughter," said Edna Howard.

Authorities said Brewton hit them from behind.

"I've been praying and trying to hold myself together because somebody got to do it,” said Edna Howard.

Aaliyah Howard was killed. Johnson suffered minor injuries.

The sheriff’s office said the deputy was on duty and going around 35 mph. They said the teens were in the roadway.

Howard believes there is more to the story.

"I do, because the little girl says they were on the median. (She says) they wasn't in the middle of the road, the median," said Howard.

The entire incident was recorded on Brewton’s dash cam. Sheriff David Morgan said it shows the teens appear right before the impact.

"The video shows them in the roadway," said Morgan.

Morgan said they cannot release the video.

"I wanna see that footage from that camera when my granddaughter got hit. I want to see that with my own eyes," said Howard.

Morgan said a Florida statute passed in 2010 prohibits the release of any video when a person is killed.

"In this case, it would clear up a tremendous amount of speculation about where the victims were at in the roadway, what he deputy's actions where before and after the accident. While we would love for the public to see that in this instance, we are inhibited by law. We cannot release that,” said Morgan.

The Howard family is still pushing for answers.

"I can rest more easy if I know what happened. It’s just like a blank" said Howard.

Brewton is on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation and medical clearance.

According to the statute, Howard does have a right to see the video. She has to make a formal request which she plans to do.

The family has set up an account to cover expenses for Howard's funeral, the account is at Regions Bank under Edna Howard.