Rayshard Brooks: Understanding the fatal shooting by Atlanta police
On June 12, officers from the Atlanta Police Department responded to reports of a man sleeping in his car in a Wendy’s parking lot. There they found 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks, and after a sobriety test and brief struggle, Brooks was fatally shot by the officers. Yahoo News has assembled a timeline of the events — and those that followed — leading to a renewed push for police reform in Georgia.
Video Transcript
[KNOCKING]
- Yo.
[KNOCKING]
Yo. What's up, my man? I think you've had too much to drink to be driving, so put your hands behind your back for me. Here. Put your hands behind your back.
- [INAUDIBLE]
- [INAUDIBLE]
[TASER POPS]
- They shot the man, man.
- What the fuck, dude?
- [INAUDIBLE] right away.
- That's totally unnecessary!
- Man, that's messed up, man.
- Totally fucking unnecessary!
VIC REYNOLDS: About 10:33 or so last night, the GBI received a call from Atlanta police requesting us to become involved in the investigation of a officer involved shooting down on University Avenue at the Wendy's restaurant concerning two Atlanta police officers and a gentleman, Mr. Brooks.
KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS: While there may be debate as to whether this was an appropriate use of deadly force, I firmly believe that there is a clear distinction between what you can do and what you should do. I do not believe that this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer.
L CHRIS STEWART: In Georgia, a taser is not a deadly weapon. That's the law. That's what the cops are trained to do. It's not a deadly weapon. I've had cases where officers have used tasers on victims, and they argue with us in court that tasers aren't deadly, that tasers aren't harmful.
- Rayshard Brooks!
- What's his name?
- Rayshard Brooks!
- What's his name?
- Rayshard Brooks!
- We're showing you the Wendy's now. The fire has broken through the roof of that building. You see the blaze there.
- No justice!
- No peace!
- No justice!
- No peace!
- No justice!
- No peace!
- No justice!
CHASSIDY EVANS: Not only did we lose another black unarmed male, this time it landed on our front door step. Blessing, Memory, and Dream will never get to see their father again.
- I have to go.
- Come on.
- Y'all took our cousin--
[SOBS]
--from me. I said I want y'all to know that y'all took my cousin from me. Y'all took the wrong person. That wasn't the person for taking because he wasn't no criminal.
[SOBS]
