Killing of Rayshard Brooks: Difference between revisions
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| place = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], US |
| place = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], US |
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| coordinates = {{Coord|33|43|18.4|N|84|23|31.3|W|type:event_region:US-GA|display=inline,title}} |
| coordinates = {{Coord|33|43|18.4|N|84|23|31.3|W|type:event_region:US-GA|display=inline,title}} |
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| type = Shooting |
| type = Shooting}} |
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}} |
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On the night of June 12, 2020, '''Rayshard Brooks''', a 27-year-old [[African American]] man, was shot and killed by [[Atlanta Police Department]] officer Garrett Rolfe. |
On the night of June 12, 2020, '''Rayshard Brooks''', a 27-year-old [[African American]] man, was shot and killed by [[Atlanta Police Department]] officer Garrett Rolfe. |
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Officer Devin Brosnan responded to a complaint that Brooks was asleep in a car blocking a restaurant drive-through lane; |
Officer Devin Brosnan responded to a complaint that Brooks was asleep in a car blocking a restaurant drive-through lane; |
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Rolfe arrived after Brosnan radioed for assistance some minutes later. |
Rolfe arrived after Brosnan radioed for assistance some minutes later. |
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After a [[breathalyzer]] exam indicated that Brooks's blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving, Rolfe and Brosnan began to handcuff Brooks. Brooks scuffled with the officers, got hold of Brosnan's [[taser]], punched Rolfe, and ran. With Rolfe pursuing him, Brooks turned |
After a [[breathalyzer]] exam indicated that Brooks's blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving, Rolfe and Brosnan began to handcuff Brooks. Brooks scuffled with the officers, got hold of Brosnan's [[taser]], punched Rolfe, and ran. With Rolfe pursuing him, Brooks turned to fire the taser toward Rolfe, who then shot Brooks twice in the back; a third shot struck an occupied car. Brooks died after surgery. |
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Footage of the incident from the officers' [[police body camera|bodycams]], from a witness's phone, and from the restaurant's security system were widely broadcast. Rolfe was fired, Brosnan was placed on administrative duty, and police chief [[Erika Shields]] resigned the following day. |
Footage of the incident from the officers' [[police body camera|bodycams]], from a witness's phone, and from the restaurant's security system were widely broadcast. Rolfe was fired, Brosnan was placed on administrative duty, and police chief [[Erika Shields]] resigned the following day. |
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Brooks stood up and punched Rolfe, who drew his own Taser and shot Brooks with it.{{r|BBCcharges}} |
Brooks stood up and punched Rolfe, who drew his own Taser and shot Brooks with it.{{r|BBCcharges}} |
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Brooks fled through the parking lot with Brosnan's Taser still in hand. Rolfe pursued him and fired again with his own Taser.{{r|BBCtimeline}} |
Brooks fled through the parking lot with Brosnan's Taser still in hand. Rolfe pursued him and fired again with his own Taser.{{r|BBCtimeline}} |
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While still running, Brooks turned |
While still running, Brooks turned to fire the second shot of Brosnan's Taser{{snd}}capable of two shots before being reloaded{{r|Fausset}}{{snd}}over Rolfe's head.{{r|NYTtimeline}}{{r|Sullum}} |
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According to prosecutors, Brooks and Rolfe were {{convert|18|ft}} apart<ref name="Stevens">{{cite news |first1=Christian |last1=Boone |first2=Alexis |last2=Stevens |first3=Bill |last3=Rankin |date=June 17, 2020 |title=Fulton DA charges former APD cop with murder in Wendy’s shooting |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/fulton-charges-former-apd-cop-with-murder-wendy-shooting/Gi2sNmHpB0s2JB3QCk6UDO/ |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>{{efn|Tasers have a range of about {{convert|15|ft}}.{{r|Brumback}}}} |
According to prosecutors, Brooks and Rolfe were {{convert|18|ft}} apart<ref name="Stevens">{{cite news |first1=Christian |last1=Boone |first2=Alexis |last2=Stevens |first3=Bill |last3=Rankin |date=June 17, 2020 |title=Fulton DA charges former APD cop with murder in Wendy’s shooting |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/fulton-charges-former-apd-cop-with-murder-wendy-shooting/Gi2sNmHpB0s2JB3QCk6UDO/ |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>{{efn|Tasers have a range of about {{convert|15|ft}}.{{r|Brumback}}}} |
Revision as of 02:52, 24 June 2020
![]() | A request that this article title be changed to Shooting of Rayshard Brooks is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
Date | June 12, 2020 |
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Time | 11:23 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4) |
Location | Atlanta, Georgia, US |
Coordinates | 33°43′18.4″N 84°23′31.3″W / 33.721778°N 84.392028°W |
Type | Shooting |
On the night of June 12, 2020, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, was shot and killed by Atlanta Police Department officer Garrett Rolfe.
Officer Devin Brosnan responded to a complaint that Brooks was asleep in a car blocking a restaurant drive-through lane; Rolfe arrived after Brosnan radioed for assistance some minutes later. After a breathalyzer exam indicated that Brooks's blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving, Rolfe and Brosnan began to handcuff Brooks. Brooks scuffled with the officers, got hold of Brosnan's taser, punched Rolfe, and ran. With Rolfe pursuing him, Brooks turned to fire the taser toward Rolfe, who then shot Brooks twice in the back; a third shot struck an occupied car. Brooks died after surgery.
Footage of the incident from the officers' bodycams, from a witness's phone, and from the restaurant's security system were widely broadcast. Rolfe was fired, Brosnan was placed on administrative duty, and police chief Erika Shields resigned the following day. Based on these videos and witness reports, prosecutors claim that after Brooks was shot, Rolfe kicked Brooks and Brosnan stood on his shoulder. Rolfe has been charged with felony murder and ten other offenses, Brosnan with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.
Background
Rayshard Brooks was a 27-year-old African American restaurant worker who lived in Atlanta.[1] He had been married eight years and had three daughters and a stepson.[2][3] In an February 2020 interview he discussed the year he spent in prison and his difficulties after being released, such as difficulty finding work.[4][5] A driving under the influence conviction could have led to revocation of his probation and a return to prison.[5][6]
Garrett Rolfe earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Georgia State University in 2013 and began with the Atlanta police department that year.[7][8] In 2016 he received a written reprimand for aiming his gun at a stolen car being pursued; the department's investigation concluded that Rolfe and other officers had engaged in erratic and unsafe driving that presented unacceptable risk to the public, and that after the vehicle had stopped and its occupants had surrendered, the officers used force that was "clearly unreasonable and unnecessary".[8] In January 2020 he received training on the use of deadly force at the county police academy, and in April he took a nine-hour course on de-escalation techniques.[9]
Devin Brosnan has been an Atlanta police officer since 2018.[10]
Death
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At 10:42 p.m. on June 12, 2020, Atlanta Police Department officer Devin Brosnan arrived at the Wendy's restaurant at 125 University Avenue in South Atlanta to investigate a report of a man (Brooks) asleep in a car which was blocking the drive-through lane.[11][12] Brosnan awakened Brooks and told him to move the car to a parking space and take a nap; Brooks fell asleep again without moving the car. Brosnan again woke Brooks and Brooks parked the car. Brosnan checked Brooks's driver's license and radioed for assistance from an officer certified to conduct driving under the influence investigations.[13][14]
Officer Garrett Rolfe arrived at 10:56[11] and, with Brooks's permission, performed a pat-down search for weapons, a field sobriety test, and a breathalyzer test.[15] Brooks appeared impaired[16][17] and was confused about where he was.[18] He said he had had one to one-and-a-half drinks[9] and denied driving[12] or being too drunk to drive.[11] The Breathalyzer registered a blood alcohol level of 0.108%, above the legal limit of 0.08%.[9] Brooks asked to leave his car in the parking lot overnight and walk to his sister's house a short distance away.[19] News outlets have characterized Brooks as relaxed,[12] friendly,[13] and cooperative.[17]
At 11:23,[12] Rolfe told Brooks: "All right, I think you've had too much to drink to be driving. Put your hands behind your back for me";[15] he and Brosnan then moved behind Brooks to handcuff him.[10] Brooks tried to break free and he and the officers scuffled on the ground. During the struggle Brosnan drew his Taser, but Brooks wrested it from him and fired it;[20] Brosnan says the Taser contacted him and he struck his head on the pavement.[16] Brooks stood up and punched Rolfe, who drew his own Taser and shot Brooks with it.[17] Brooks fled through the parking lot with Brosnan's Taser still in hand. Rolfe pursued him and fired again with his own Taser.[12] While still running, Brooks turned to fire the second shot of Brosnan's Taser – capable of two shots before being reloaded[18] – over Rolfe's head.[11][19]
According to prosecutors, Brooks and Rolfe were 18 feet (5.5 m) apart[21][a] when Rolfe dropped his Taser, drew his handgun[11] and shot Brooks once in the midback and once in the buttocks;[23] a third shot struck a nearby vehicle, narrowly missing its three occupants.[17][20] According to prosecutors Rolfe then declared, "I got him".[16][22]
Two minutes after Brooks was shot Rolfe appeared to unroll a bandage and place it on Brooks's torso. Seven minutes after Brooks was shot an ambulance arrived and he was taken to the hospital, where he died following surgery.[11] Brosnan was treated for a concussion.[24]
Investigation and criminal charges
The county medical examiner rule Brooks' death a homicide.[25] The Atlanta Police Department asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to investigate;[26] as of June 17, 2020[update] that investigation was continuing.[27] The two officers were removed from duty;[28] soon after, Rolfe was fired and Brosnan placed on administrative duty.[7][29]
On June 17 the Fulton County District Attorney announced eleven charges against Rolfe: felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, four police oath violations, and damage to property.[30] He said Rolfe should have been aware that the Taser Brooks had taken posed no danger, as after being fired twice it could not fire again;[31] that Rolfe and Brosnan did not provide timely medical aid to Brooks and that before they did, Rolfe kicked him and Brosnan stood on his shoulders;[31] and that it was a violation of department policy for Rolfe to begin handcuffing Brooks before telling him he was being arrested. According to one law-enforcement expert, "In many situations, officers should tell someone what is happening because you don't want the person to react in surprise and the officers to take that surprise as resistance."[18][20] Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.[32][33]
A bond hearing for Rolfe was set for June 23.[34] Brosnan was released after posting bond.[35]
Reactions
Demonstrators gathered at the site of the shooting on June 12 and 13.[36] On June 13, rioters burned down the Wendy's restaurant outside which Brooks was shot, set fire to several nearby cars, and broke a television camera.[37][38][39]
On June 13, Atlanta's police chief Erika Shields resigned; Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Shields had resigned in the hope that "the city may move forward with urgency and [rebuild] the trust so desperately needed throughout our communities."[40][41][42] On June 15, Mayor Bottoms ordered the Atlanta Police Department overhaul its use-of-force policies.[43]
Atlanta police officers initiated a "blue flu" demonstration beginning on June 18, calling in sick to work to protest charges against Rolfe. Numbers were not released, but only one officer showed up to work in one precinct to which several dozen are assigned.[44][45] On the evening of June 19 every single police officer failed to report for duty in Zone 5, leaving only the 3 supervisors.[46]
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Oliviero, Helena; Boone, Christian (June 14, 2020). "Who was Rayshard Brooks?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Justin Carissimo (June 16, 2020). "Who is Rayshard Brooks, 27-year-old black man killed by Atlanta police?". CBS News.
- ^ Danner, Chas (June 14, 2020). "Everything We Know About the Killing of Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta Police". Intelligencer. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Reyes, Lorenzo (June 18, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks opened up about struggles, incarceration months before death. He wasn't going to 'give up'". USA Today.
- ^ a b Strassmann, Mark (June 19, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks On Probation At The Time Of His Death". WUPA.
- ^ St. Henry, Meredith (June 19, 2020). "Officer Garrett Rolfe Held Without Bond For Killing of Rayshard Brooks". WWTV.
- ^ a b Calicchio, Dom (June 14, 2020). "Atlanta police Officer Garrett Rolfe fired, another reassigned after Rayshard Brooks death". Fox News.
- ^ a b Brittany Shammas, Ex-Atlanta officer charged with killing Rayshard Brooks reprimanded for pointing gun at car in 2016, Washington Post (June 20, 2020).
- ^ a b c Boone, Christian (June 14, 2020). "Body cam footage of Rayshard Brooks' death shows calm, then chaos". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Bynum, Russ; Anderson, Brynn (June 14, 2020). "'Stop fighting!' Atlanta sobriety test quickly turned deadly". Associated Press. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f Browne, Malachy; Kelso, Christina; Marcolini, Barbara (June 14, 2020). "How Rayshard Brooks Was Fatally Shot by the Atlanta Police". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Rayshard Brooks: What happened before police shot him dead?". BBC News. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Hutchinson, Bill (June 14, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks went from telling Atlanta officer about visiting mother's grave to being fatally shot: Video". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Sharpe, Joshua; Walker, Marlon; Boone, Christian (June 19, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks' final 41 minutes". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Kelly, Cara (June 17, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks video: Legal scholars break down key moments in shooting timeline". USA Today. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ a b c Rojas, Rick; Fausset, Richard (June 17, 2020). "Former Atlanta Officer Is Charged With Murder in Shooting of Rayshard Brooks". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Rayshard Brooks shooting: US policeman faces murder charge". BBC News. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c Richard, Fausset; Dewan, Shaila (June 18, 2020). "Police Decisions Are Scrutinized After Rayshard Brooks's Fatal Encounter". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Sullum, Jacob (June 15, 2020). "Was the Shooting of Rayshard Brooks 'Lawful but Awful'?". Reason. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ a b c Hutchinson, Bill (June 18, 2020). "Atlanta police use-of-force policy violated multiple times in fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks: Prosecutor". ABC News. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Boone, Christian; Stevens, Alexis; Rankin, Bill (June 17, 2020). "Fulton DA charges former APD cop with murder in Wendy's shooting". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Brumback, Kate (June 17, 2020). "Officer charged with murder for shooting Rayshard Brooks". Associated Press. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Hollingsworth, Julia; Marsh, Jenni; Wilkinson, Peter; Hayes, Mike; Vera, Amir (June 14, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks autopsy shows he was shot in the back twice, medical examiner says". CNN. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Rankin, Bill (June 23, 2020). "EXCLUSIVE: Atlanta cop charged in Brooks case: 'the truth will come out'; Devin Brosnan calls Rayshard Brooks' death a tragedy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ "Rayshard Brooks police shooting was homicide, says medical examiner". The Guardian. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ BYNUM, RUSS; ANDERSON, BRYNN. "Atlanta police chief resigns after officers shoot, kill black man following struggle in Wendy's drive-thru lane". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Saxon, Angela (June 17, 2020). "GBI was unaware of today's Atlanta press conference regarding Rayshard Brooks shooting". wfxg.com. WFXG. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Siegel, Rachel (June 14, 2020). "Officer kills black man; police chief resigns". Times Union. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ "Night of protest, unrest after officer-involved shooting of Rayshard Brooks; one officer fired". June 14, 2020. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Hansen, Zachary; Boone, Christian (June 17, 2020). "Atlanta Cop Charged with Felony Murder, other charges in Rayshard Brooks Death". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ a b "Rayshard Brooks shooting: Atlanta officer charged with felony murder". The Guardian. June 17, 2020. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ Siddiqui, Sabrina (June 17, 2020). "Atlanta Police Officer Who Shot Rayshard Brooks Charged With Felony Murder". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ [1], KIRO/WSB-TV (June 17, 2020).
- ^ King, Michael; Haney, Adrianne M; Sirianni, Maura (June 19, 2020). "Ex-Atlanta officer charged in Rayshard Brooks shooting waives court appearance; denied bond". 11alive.com. WXIA-TV. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ Meredith St. Henry, Officer Garrett Rolfe Held Without Bond For Killing of Rayshard Brooks, WWTV (June 19, 2020).
- ^ Maher, Kris (June 13, 2020). "Protests Planned in Atlanta After Police Shooting of Black Man". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ "Rayshard Brooks shooting: Protesters block traffic on Atlanta highway". WJAX. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Washington, Audrey. "LIVE UPDATES: Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed goes up in flames". WSBTV. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Artemis Moshtaghian, Jay Croft, Paul P. Murphy, Kelly McCleary and Amir Vera. "Atlanta officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks has been terminated". CNN. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Siegel, Rachel (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police chief resigns after law enforcement fatally shoots black man". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Mark; Hoyos, Joshua (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigns in wake of fatal shooting". ABC News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- ^ Trubey, J. Scott; McCray, Vanessa; Arielle Kass (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks roils city". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
- ^ Fausset, Richard; Rojas, Rick (June 15, 2020). "Atlanta Mayor Tightens Rules on When Police Can Use Force". Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Brumback, Kate (June 18, 2020). "Atlanta police call out sick to protest charges in shooting". AP News. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Cohen, Seth (June 18, 2020). "As Atlanta Police Protest, Is "Blue Flu" The Next Pandemic?". Forbes. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Atlanta police sickout calls continue for third day". 11Alive.com.
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