The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has released surveillance video of the Atlanta police officer-involved shooting and killing of Rayshard Brooks that has sparked local and nationwide outrage.
GBI Director Vic Reynolds said in a Saturday afternoon press conference that the agency had reviewed surveillance video from the Wendy’s restaurant on University Avenue, as well as numerous social media videos of the incident.
Reynolds said Brooks, 27, was suspected of a DUI offense after he was found asleep in his car, which was blocking the drive-thru window. Reynolds said a physical confrontation took place, then Brooks got one of the officer’s tasers before fleeing from police.
“It appears that the gentleman has the taser in in his hand, runs a relatively short distance, and then appears to turn around and point the taser at the Atlanta officer,” Reynolds said. “That is when officer reached down and retrieved his weapon from his holster and discharges and fires at Mr. Brooks, who goes down.”
Reynolds said this timeline is what appears to the “naked eye,” but the surveillance video is being digitally enhanced for closer inspection. He also said he believes Brooks was shot three times, but hat not seen the final report.
Reynolds said he has asked agents to expedite the investigation, citing the “tremendous amount of passion in the case.”
“I humbly and respectively ask the the public to wait for the video so they can see what we’ve been able to see before making a judgement,” Reynolds said.
The original GBI report released this morning said that at approximately 10:33 p.m, on June 12, APD was dispatched to the Wendy’s fast food restaurant at 125 University Ave. Officers were responding to a complaint of a male in a vehicle parked in the drive thru asleep, causing other customers to drive around the vehicle.
After failing a field sobriety test, officers attempted to place Brooks into custody and a struggled ensued. The APD officer deployed a taser and witnesses report that during the struggle Brooks grabbed and was in possession of the taser. It has also been reported that the male subject was shot by an officer in the struggle over the taser.
Social media of the incident appears to show Brooks running away from the officers when he was shot.
Brooks was transported to a local hospital where he died after surgery. One officer was treated for an injury sustained during the incident and was subsequently discharged from the hospital.
Once completed, the case will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Protesters, who have been marching and rallying against racial injustice for two weeks in Atlanta following the officer-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, gathered at the Wendy’s, State Capitol, and various other locations around the city.
Atlanta City Councilman Andre Dickens released a statement about the shooting on Saturday afternoon. “I am saddened to start this day with the news of another black person killed by the police, and especially dismayed to see it happen in our city. Police must de-escalate situations like these before they turn deadly. Once the suspect fled unarmed and intoxicated through a parking lot of bystanders, this could have become an investigation rather than a shooting. With the resources we have at hand to investigate, detectives could have located the escaped DUI suspect, but instead we are mourning another unnecessary loss of black life. In solidarity with the millions of voices across this nation, I’m calling for a full review of all APD procedures, training, and shootings. TIME OUT FOR WORDS!”
The Georgia NACCP called on Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to relieve APD Chief Erika Shields of duty following Brooks’ death.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
This us very sad. However, I’m not sure the answer is: when a suspect steals an Officer’s taser, either the Officer shouldn’t chase them…or, if they do, they should nonetheless allow the suspect to fire that taser at the Officer, thereby running the risk of the suspect being able to grab the incapacitated Officer’s gun and shoot the Officer or others…..Furthermore, it would be illogical & antithetical (not to mention, dangerous) to compare this case to the situation where a police officer fires a taser at a suspect; If we do not allow our policies to consider the “what ifs” should the suspect turn out to indeed have criminal purpose, we are doomed for all that follows if police are not allowed to stop them when they can.
Honestly, regardless of anyone’s skin color, we must teach all our officers the importance of not racially profiling, and of being compassionate. At the same time, we must teach all of our citizens the importance of cooperating with police. The videos all conclusively confirm that was a valid stop & search, the suspect was clearly inebriated and out of control, and the suspect stole an Officers weapon and sought to incapacitate him with it. No judge or jury could legally find the Officer guilty here, and the Officer is also likely to win a fortune in any lawsuit against the city for its quick firing of him here.
I would like to add one comment to the well stated comment made by “concerned ally”. In some of the interviews and commentaries about this incident people have asked or suggested that a better way to deal with intoxicated subjects would be to take them home rather than arrest them. While that sounds nice and reads well in the news, in reality it can and often does present a completely new set of problems, some of which also have deadly potential. There is absolutely no way the officers can know what an intoxicated person might do after that point. Are they a domestic abuser left to reign terror on their victim(s)? Or perhaps there are underlying and deep depression issues that are exasperated by the alcohol or drugs and did the officers leave them someplace where they could harm their selves or end their lives? Maybe the person will just hop in another car and still in an intoxicated state be the drunk driver to kill someone else. Police officers cannot he made to put anyone, including their selves, at this risk. At this point some may be saying this is an extreme concept however my husband and many friends are either retired or current police officers and have actually witnessed this play out. A couple of area departments have paid large settlements when the “friendly” approach of taking a drunk driver home went terribly wrong . . . one suicide and one got back in a car causing a severe accident. So yes, it does happen and yes, lodging the intoxicated person in jail is a good approach. In jail, they are monitored for any medical issues that might result from the substance abuse, kept safe from harming their selves and their families as well as the public are safe from any potential harm.
Mr Brooks. a convicted felon on parole, has nobody to blame but himself for escalating a DUI into using violence against police, stealing a deadly weapon which he had no legal right to possess or carry, and continue to resist arrest, flee from police, and then discharge a deadly weapon with the intent to kill or injure a police offer so he could stop running and murder the officer. Regardless of race, this criminal got exactly what he deserved. Instead of praising the officer for a job well done in his calm and respectful treatment of this violent man, the racist bigot DA, without a Grand Jury, indicts an innocent man for murder.
And please stop the BLM BULLSH*T, police already practice affirmative action in failing to use deadly force even when appropriate against black suspects. White males are at higher risk of being killed by police when deadly force is appropriate. And for all you race baiting NAACP members, it is difficult to de-escalate a criminal when he is dicharging a weapon in your face.
Arrest this racist DA and thank the Atlanta police for ridding your city of such a dangerous felon. Why is Wendy’s not outraged at the arrest of the policeman and why are lawless trespassers allowed to occupy the property:
Mr. Brooks, Rest In Peace, you actions had consequences.. and eventually Justice will prevail and thee officers will recover punitive damages for wrongful I arrest, and abuse of process by a dirty and racist DA.