Update: Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old man from Atlanta, has been identified as the person shot and killed by police after a struggle last night in the drive-thru of a Wendy’s. He died after emergency surgery following the fatal encounter with the cops. The shooting was caught on video.
GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said: “After failing the test, the officers attempted to place the male subject into custody. During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser.”
Previously: A police officer in Atlanta, Georgia has shot an unarmed black man, prompting a group of people to show up and protest.
The officer-involved shooting took place in the drive-thru/parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant at 125 University Avenue S.W. near Pryor Road at 10:30 p.m. on Friday.
The story is developing, here are the few details that have surfaced thus far. The shooting was filmed, and a few videos were posted on Facebook by a man named Tay Williams and a woman, Tiachelle Brown, and Twitter.
According to bystanders, the man was shot at least three times in the back while he was running away from Atlanta police officers after a struggle where a few punches were thrown.
It is being reported the African American man was approached by the police for a traffic stop because he was asleep in the car. It is believed that there was a woman in the car with him at the time.
It is also being claimed that there is a possibility that the man was drunk, and the police wanted to arrest him for a DUI.
He didn't reach for no gun he took the taser trying not to be tased. Then some punches seemed to be thrown he got taser then ran off with it and the cops followed and one fired shots to his back from a far. pic.twitter.com/EEYrmh8Kh2
— BLACKBUTTERFLY (@KeishaLuvLife) June 13, 2020
A witness said in a video that the man tried to take the taser of one of the cops and tried to run away from his vehicle, which is when one of the officers ran after him with a taser, and the other allegedly shot him three times in the back.
Before the incident, two white police officers spoke to the man for over 20 minutes.
He was taken for emergency surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Atlanta Police Department said that the two officers are shaken up and have been put on administrative leave while GBI investigates the incident that has already sparked protests against police brutality.
Deputy Chief Timothy Peek said in a brief statement that the APD supports the protest and understands the people’s concern and added: “Ultimately we all have to be accountable to each other.”
A person had this to say about the case: “This hurts me. It’s like they’ve been given permission to shoot to kill.”
https://t.co/t05BIHjVOj https://t.co/7pLFTfryQM
— Melanie Hawkins (@MelanieHT1919) June 13, 2020
This concerned citizen made this remark after seeing the sad developments: “Unbelievable. I read he was unarmed. This is not right!! I think we need stricter policies around which officers can be in the field and carry weapons; some of these people are just capable of that responsibility.”
TRIGGER WARNING: police murder
Atlanta police just shot a Black man in a Wendy’s drive-thru. What is shown in the video is the aftermath. pic.twitter.com/wsTZXQVvjo
— بيسان (@hbs14n) June 13, 2020
Protesters are waiting to hear from Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who became a national figure thanks to her moderate stance in regards to protests and riots after George Floyd‘s death.
