2nd victim emerges and gives details of Rayshard Brooks shooting
A second shooting victim has emerged from the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks. Melvin Evans appeared on Wednesday’s Cuomo Prime Time, where he discussed the witnessing the from only a few feet away. Evans and a friend pulled into the Wendy’s where the shooting occurred as a struggle broke out between police officer Garrett Rolfe and Brooks. The ordeal ended with Brooks being shot twice in the back as he tried to escape custody. Rolfe has since been fired and charged with felony murder. One of the more heavily debated topics in this matter centers around whether Brooks shot at Rolfe with a taser as he fled. Evans recalled Brooks having possession of a taser but was not quite sure about whether it was fired. “[Brooks] pointed the taser in the air and I don't think he shot it,” said Evans. “I think he was doing -- he shot it to get the officer off of him.” Evans’ truck was hit by one of Rolfe’s bullets, but he was not injured. In the wake of George Floyd and other Black victims of police brutality, he was understandably scared in the moment and unsure how to safely flee the danger. “I'm not going to pull out while [Rolfe] got this gun in his hand because if I move, he's right ten feet from the truck,” recalled Evans. “I might run over them or something being nervous or trying to get from the scene or [he’ll] shoot at the truck.” Evans ducked down in his truck until he saw Rolfe holster his gun, at which point he left. He did recall Brooks being handcuffed as he drove away. As for the accusations that Rolfe kicked and stepped on Brooks after the shooting, Evans said, “I didn’t [see], that probably happened after we left.”
Video Transcript
CHRIS CUOMO: Did you see Rayshard Brooks try to fire the taser at the officer who was chasing him?
He-- he pointed the taser in the air.
KYLIE MAR: A second shooting victim has emerged in the case involving former police officer, Garrett Rolfe, who was recently charged with murder in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks. The second victim, Melvin Evans, appeared on "Cuomo Prime Time" Wednesday, where he recalled witnessing the shooting while sitting in his truck only a few feet away.
MELVIN EVANS: The officer was chasing him. He had a taser in his right hand. The victim had a taser in his-- in his hand. The officer shot three times, and dropped. And we was-- we was ducking because we didn't want to get hit.
KYLIE MAR: Evans' truck was hit by one of Rolfe's bullets. And in the wake of George Floyd and other victims of police brutality, he was understandably scared and unsure how to safely flee the danger.
MELVIN EVANS: I'm not going to pull out while this man got this gun in his hand because if I move, and he right 10 feet-- he 10 feet from the truck, I might run over them or something, being nervous or trying to get away from the scene, and he shoot-- shoot at the truck.
KYLIE MAR: Evans ducked down in his truck until Rolfe put his gun away and it was safe to leave.
MELVIN EVANS: All I know is when we left, he was over there. I think he put cuffs on. And that's when I-- that's when I-- that's when I got-- I just got-- got away from the scene.
