Atlanta, GA — Amid protests against racism after the death of George Floyd, another new case has come to the forefront. Over the weekend, there was an incident involving the police and an Atlanta civilian, Rayshard Brooks. That night, Brooks was shot and killed by Atlanta police officer, Garrett Rolfe.
A security video released on Saturday shows Rolfe, shooting Brooks. In fact, Rolfe had awakened him a few minutes earlier because he was sleeping in his car in an order pick-up area in Wendy’s parking lot.
The autopsy conducted on Sunday showed that Brooks, 27, died from the loss of blood and injuries to his organs caused by two gunshots to his back. The Fulton County medical examiner affirmed Brooks’s death was a homicide, per The Guardian’s report.
According to The Guardian, once police arrived on site, their interaction with Brooks started off as cordial with no confrontation. However, the reports stated, Brooks resisted arrest and after struggling with the officers, took one of the electric pistols (tasers) they used, attempting to flee on foot.
Moments after he runs from the police, shots are heard and Brooks is seen on the ground. Although Brooks was taken to the hospital, he later died. One of the officers was treated for an injury after the incident but didn’t sustain any life-threatening injuries.
After the shooting, Rolfe was fired and his partner that night has been placed on administrative leave. Atlanta’s police chief, Erika Shields has now resigned from her position.
As global protests against racism and police brutality continue to happen, over the weekend the intensity increased after the incident with Brooks.
Protesters took to the streets of Atlanta and called for police officers to receive criminal charges. At one point Saturday night, they blocked traffic on a nearby interstate highway and the Wendy’s where Brooks was arrested, was set on fire.
Both incidents are still under investigation.
