YouTube download / 11Alive video / Atlanta Police body cam footage of Friday night's fatal shooting shooting of Rayshard Brooks by a cop was released Saturday night. Warning: The video may be disturbing to some viewers.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer / reporting from Orlando, Fla.
The Atlanta cop who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks has been terminated and his partner placed on administrative leave, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in a series of news releases Saturday amid protests leading to the torching of Wendy's fast food restaurant where the fatal shooting took place the previous night.
Cops were called to the scene amid complaints Vrooks had fallen asleep in his car while in the drive-thru lance, fording other customers to drive around him.
It's unclear which of the two Atlanta cops cops shot and killed the 27-year-old black man and father of three children on Friday night in the parking lot of a Wendy's fast food restaurant after a physical confrontation erupted when the cops tried to place him under arrest for alleged drinking and driving, leading to Brooks throwing a punch and grabbing one of two tasers before he tried to run away.
It's unclear which of the two Atlanta cops cops shot and killed the 27-year-old black man and father of three children on Friday night in the parking lot of a Wendy's fast food restaurant after a physical confrontation erupted when the cops tried to place him under arrest for alleged drinking and driving, leading to Brooks throwing a punch and grabbing one of two tasers before he tried to run away.
But seconds later shots were fired by the cop whose Taser was snatched from him. Lewis may have fired the Taser back at the cop leading to the fatal shots. A Taser is considered by most police agencies as a non-lethal means of getting control of an unruly suspect resisting arrest.
Deadly force is only to be used when the life of one or more cops or the lives of innocent bystanders are threatened. That apparently was not the case in Atlanta where Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms earlier in the day had demanded had demanded the firing of the cop who gunned down Lewis had announced the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields.
The GBI said it has obtained additional surveillance video from the Wendy's restaurant. Agents have also reviewed video posted on social media. These new videos indicate that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer's Tasers and began to flee from the scene. Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks.
A copy of this video will be released to the public, the GBI said.
An earlier account of this incident was based on the officer's body cam which was knocked off during the physical struggle, preventing the capture of the entire shooting incident. The GBI is continuing to conduct an independent investigation.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described by the GBI: Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 10:33 pm, Atlanta Police Department was dispatched to the Wendy’s, 125 University Ave, Atlanta. Officers were responding to a complaint of a mam asleep in a vehicle parked in the drive thru, forcing other customers to drive around the vehicle.
A field sobriety test was performed on. Brooks After failing the test, the officers attempted to place him into custody. During the arrest, Brooks resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser. Witnesses report that during the struggle, grabbed his Taser leading to a pursuit across the parking lot where shots were fired. The GBI didn't indicate whether Brooks fired the Taser before he was shot by the cop who drew his gun.
Brooks was transported to a local hospital where he died after surgery. The second officer was treated for an injury sustained during the incident and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.
The GBI said it will will continue its independent investigation. Once completed, the case will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review, the GBI said.
About the Byline Writer:
Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.
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