Killing of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán: Difference between revisions

Killing of Manuel Esteban Paez Terán
Date	January 18, 2023
Venue	Stop Cop City occupied protest
Location	Cop City, South River Forest, Georgia, United States
Type	Law enforcement killing
	Shooting is under investigation

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 22:45, 28 April 2023

Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, also known as Tortuguita, was a Venezuelan non-binary environmental activist and eco-anarchist^[1]^[2] who was shot and killed by a Georgia State Patrol trooper after an officer was wounded in the leg during a raid of the Stop Cop City encampment on January 18, 2023.

Bodycam footage from the incident includes video recordings of police on the scene speculating that the officer's gunshot injury was the result of friendly fire.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6] Autopsy results show Terán sustained 57 gunshot wounds, and found no gunpowder residue on their hands, indicating that they had not fired at police.^[7]^[8] At the time of the shooting, the family claims Terán's hands were up, based on independent autopsy results showing bullet exit wounds in both hands.^[9]^[10]^[11]

The claim of friendly fire is disputed by the Atlanta Police Department, which has alleged that Terán fired without warning, shooting at officers after they had ordered the activist to exit the tent they were camping in.^[12]

A forensic ballistic analysis report by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation claims a 9mm handgun belonging to Terán (legally purchased in 2020) was used to shoot the officer during the police raid. The details of this report's analysis have not been released publicly.^[13]

On April 19, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's office released an autopsy, which found at least 57 gunshot wounds on Terán's body and ruled their death a homicide; the autopsy also found no evidence of gunshot residue on Terán's hands, implying that they did not shoot at officers.^[7]^[14]

According to The Guardian, Terán was the first environmental activist in modern U.S. history to have been shot and killed by police during a protest.^[5]^[15] Demonstrations and vigils were held in several cities in the United States and internationally in reaction to the shooting, including a riot in Atlanta on January 21, 2023.^[16]^[17]^[1] Many organizations and some members of Congress have condemned the killing and called for an independent investigation of the events.^[18]^[19]

Background

Terán was a 26-year-old^[20] Venezuelan environmental activist and graduate of Florida State University, who had been active in several social justice movements, including Food Not Bombs!, before joining the Stop Cop City forest defense actions in Atlanta.^[2] Terán went by the nickname Tortuguita, which is Spanish for "Little Turtle."^[1]

The Stop Cop City protests that Terán was participating in were part of broader and longstanding tensions over police killings in the United States following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Stop Cop City demonstrators oppose construction of the Atlanta Public Training Facility, which is slated to be built near a predominantly Black neighborhood.^[21]^[22]^[23]^[24]

Fatal shooting

The morning of January 18, 2023, Terán was inside a tent at the Stop Cop City encampment.^[1] At around 9:00 a.m. that morning, Georgia State Patrol troopers commenced a raid on the encampment^[1]^[25]^[20] During the raid, a state patrol trooper was struck by a bullet in the pelvic area of the body^[26]^[27] and at around 9:04 a.m., state patrol troopers fired on Terán, killing them at the scene.^[28]^[20]

Investigations

Police accounts of the incident claim troopers encountered a tent and gave verbal orders for the person inside to exit; police say their commands were ignored and that Terán fired first without warning.^[29] Stop Cop City activists dispute the police description of the event.^[30] Other protesters and Terán's family dispute that Terán fired a gun.^[29] The shooting was initially under investigation by the both the GBI and DeKalb County District Attorney's office.^[1] District Attorney Sherry Boston requested an independent prosecuting agency to take over the investigation to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, because her office is involved in a task force for the Atlanta Public Training Facility.^[27]

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), forensic ballistic analysis determined that the projectile recovered from the officer's leg wound matched the handgun found in Terán's possession.^[13]^[31] The details of the analysis have not been released publicly. The recovered handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm semi-automatic pistol, was determined to have been purchased legally by Terán in September 2020.^[26]^[20] Police claim Terán refused to leave the tent, and subsequently shot and wounded an officer with that gun.^[32]^[33] An autopsy later found that there was no gunpowder residue present on Terán's hands, contradicting allegations by police that Terán fired any shots at officers.^[14]^[3]

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, there is no bodycam footage of the shooting itself.^[34] On February 9, Atlanta police released body camera^[6] footage of the aftermath of the shooting wherein an officer is heard saying,

"(inaudible), you fucked your own officer up,"
— 9:04:20, 2023-01-18^[6]

Two officers are later heard asking "Did they shoot their own man?" In the footage, officers were also heard saying that the gunfire "sounded like suppressed gunfire."^[35] This comment led some to believe that the officer had been injured by friendly fire rather than by Terán.^[36]^[37]

Results from an independent autopsy determined that Téran had been shot 14 times "by different firearms" with their hands raised while sitting cross-legged on the ground,^[38]^[39] indicated by, but not limited to, the downward trajectory of fire of bullets from above and the pattern of injuries on the legs.^[40] The autopsy also says that "... none of the identified firearm wounds exhibited any evidence of close range firing" because traces of gunpowder were not found, but that "... for the purposes of this report, the range of fire for all of these wounds is considered to be 'indeterminate.'"^[40]

Some newspapers have claimed that Terán's hands were raised above their head, based on the autopsy report.^{[citation needed]} Although possible, this is not conclusively proven by it.^[40] Instead the official autopsy report states that "At some point during the course of being shot, the decedent was able to raise [their] hands and arms up and in front of [their] body, with [their] palms facing towards [their] upper body." Exit wounds were found on the palms of both hands, and Terán's upper body was struck by more than one bullet.^[40]

On April 19, 2023, the DeKalb County Medical Examiner released an autopsy and ruled Terán's manner of death to be homicide;^[41] the autopsy found that contrary to police statements, Terán did not have gunpowder residue on their hands, which suggests that Terán did not fire at officers.^[14] As reported by The Guardian, the results of the gunshot residue test performed by the GBI may not be conclusive. The findings of the county autopsy also suggest that the police who opened fire on Terán were likely to have been more than several feet away when officers' weapons were discharged.^[42]

Reaction and unrest

Notable vigils and protests were also held in the U.S. cities of Atlanta, Bridgeport, Minneapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Tucson from January 20–22, 2023.^[23] Some demonstrators spray painted graffiti on Bank of America buildings to protest the company's involvement in financing the facility's construction.^[23] Vigils were also held in the U.S. cities of Seattle and Chicago, and internationally in London and Lützerath.^[1]

Atlanta riot

In downtown Atlanta on January 21, 2023, protests briefly turned violent.^[17] Demonstrators had marched from Underground Atlanta down Peachtree Street. At the intersection with Ellis Street, some demonstrators threw objects, set at least two^[27] Atlanta Police Department vehicles on fire, and smashed windows of bank buildings with hammers.^[17] The events had broad participation from people across the United States. Six people — most of whom were White and from outside of the U.S. state of Georgia^[43] — were arrested and charged criminally for actions during the January 21 riot.^[44]^[45] Police alleged that several of the persons arrested possessed explosives.^[27]

Stop Cop City issued a statement the day after the riot stating, "Destruction of material is fundamentally different from violence. All reported acts appear to be explicitly targeted against the financial backers".^[46] On January 26, 2023, Georgia governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in response to unrest that had erupted following the killing.^[47]

Response

In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, the Georgia General Assembly considered legislation to require state patrol officers to wear body cameras.^[48]

In February, three U.S. Congress members called for an independent investigation into the killing.^[19] Several hundred national and international organizations have condemned the killing and called for an independent investigation.^[49]^[18]^[50]^[51]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Protesters question circumstances surrounding 'Stop Cop City' activist's death". PBS. January 29, 2023. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Factora, James (January 23, 2023). "Queer 'Cop City' Protestor Tortuguita Fatally Shot by Law Enforcement in Atlanta". Them. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Marcus, Josh (April 21, 2023). "Autopsy strengthens case that 'Cop City' activist didn't fire first before being gunned down by police". The Independent. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
^ Lacy, Akela (February 9, 2023). "Officer in Cop City Bodycam Footage Suggests Fellow Cop Was Shot by Friendly Fire". The Intercept. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Pratt, Timothy (April 20, 2023). "'Cop City' activist's official autopsy reveals more than 50 bullet wounds". The Guardian. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Atlanta PD Bodycam – 1/18/23 Forest Raid: '39-3.mp4', archived from the original on March 6, 2023, retrieved March 6, 2023
^ ^a ^b Hughes, Rosana; Silva, Caroline. "Autopsy: Gunshot residue 'not seen' on activist killed at police training center". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
^ Valencia, Nick; Sayers, Devon M.; Kirkland, Pamela (April 20, 2023). "Climate activist killed in 'Cop City' protest sustained 57 gunshot wounds, official autopsy says, but questions about gunpowder residue remain". CNN. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
^ Radde, Kaityln (March 11, 2023). "Autopsy reveals anti-'Cop City' activist's hands were raised when shot and killed". NPR. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
^ Papp, Jozsef. "Family: Activist's hands raised when shot by troopers near training center site". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
^ Binder, Alex (March 13, 2023). "Manuel 'Tortuguita' Terán's Independent Autopsy Report Released at Press Conference". Unicorn Riot. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
^ . name=":1b">Pratt, Timothy (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting Following Multi-Agency Operation at Site of Future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center". Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Alfonseca, Kiara (April 19, 2023). "DeKalb County releases autopsy in 'Cop City' protester Manuel Teran's death". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
^ "Georgia is seeking to define 'Cop City' protests as terrorism, experts say". TheGuardian.com. January 28, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ Mahdawi, Arwa (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Cheney Orr (January 21, 2023). "Atlanta protest against shooting death of activist briefly turns violent". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Rowell, Andy (February 20, 2023). "Week of action begins demanding justice for the murder of "Cop City" forest defender". Oil Change International. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Pratt, Timothy (February 9, 2023). "'Cop City' opposition spreads beyond Georgia forest defenders". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting Following Multi-Agency Operation at Site of Future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center". Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "Atlanta Police Kill Forest Defender at Protest Encampment Near Proposed "Cop City" Training Center". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
^ Sassoon, Alessandro Marazzi; Rojas, Rick (January 19, 2023). "Protester Killed in Firefight at Site of New Atlanta Police Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Fur, Lucy (January 23, 2023). "Marches and Vigils Across the US Respond to the Police Killing of Forest Defender Tort". Unicorn Riot. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
^ "Atlanta Public Safety Training Center Site Plans Hub – July 2022 Plans". October 20, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
^ "Person killed at Atlanta police training center site ID'd". The Washington Post. January 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Fox 5 digital team. "GBI: Gun used to shoot trooper at site of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center bought legally by suspect". Fox5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Proctor, Aungelique (January 25, 2023). "DA requests independent prosecutor in deadly shooting at future Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility". FOX 5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "Atlanta Police Kill Forest Defender at Protest Encampment Near Proposed "Cop City" Training Center". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Pratt, Timothy (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
^ Rico, R.J. (January 29, 2023). "Protesters: 'Cop City' activist's killing doesn't make sense". AP News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ "GA Bureau of Investigation, Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
^ "GBI: Gun found on protester was used to shoot trooper at future APD training site". Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
^ Kirkland, Pamela; Waldrop, Theresa (January 20, 2023). "7 charged with domestic terrorism after deadly shooting near proposed Atlanta police training facility". CNN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
^ Cara Tabachnick (January 26, 2023). "What we know about "Cop City" and the standoff between police, protesters in Atlanta". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023. the gun used in the shooting against the trooper was purchased by Terán in September 2020
^ Enriquez, Alyza (February 9, 2023). "Atlanta Police Release Body Camera Footage of Activist Killing at 'Cop City'". Vice News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
^ Estep, Tyler; Abusaid, Shaddi (February 8, 2023). "Atlanta police release footage of training center shooting aftermath". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^ Unicorn Riot (February 8, 2023). "Atlanta PD Releases Bodycam Footage from Deadly Jan. 18 Forest Raid". Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^ Owen, Tess (March 13, 2023). "Police Shot 'Stop Cop City' Activist 14 Times With Their Hands Up, Independent Autopsy Shows". Vice News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^ Rico, R.J. (March 13, 2023). "Autopsy report says 'Cop City' protester had hands raised when killed". PBS News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sperry, M.D., Kris (March 13, 2023). "REPORT OF SECOND AUTOPSY" (PDF). Decaturish. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
^ Gowitt, Gerald (April 19, 2023). "Autopsy Report" (PDF). Fox 5 Atlanta.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Pratt, Timothy (April 20, 2023). "'Cop City' activist's official autopsy reveals more than 50 bullet wounds". The Guardian.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Estep, Tyler (January 24, 2023). "Arrests point to broad pull of protests against Atlanta training center". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
^ Stevens, Alexis (January 23, 2023). "2 granted $355K bond after Atlanta protest leads to rioting; 4 to stay in jail". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
^ "Atlanta Riots: 4 of 6 suspects arrested denied bond". WAGA-TV. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
^ "6 arrested after violent protesters cause mayhem, set APD car on fire in downtown Atlanta". WSBTV. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
^ "State of emergency declared over Atlanta 'Cop City' protest". Associated Press. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^ Kousouris, Abby (February 2, 2023). "Ga. lawmakers consider mandating body cameras for police". WRDW. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
^ "Greenpeace USA calls for solidarity in response to the police killing of Atlanta forest defender Manuel 'Tortuguita' Terán". Greenpeace USA. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ Resilience (January 24, 2023). "Vigils for Tortuguita: Land Defenders Erupt in Solidarity". Resilience. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
^ Fur, Lucy (January 23, 2023). "Marches and Vigils Across the US Respond to the Police Killing of Forest Defender Tort". UNICORN RIOT. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

External links

DeKalb County Medical Examiner's autopsy report
Police footage from raid and subsequent events leading to the killing of Terán:

[:2-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Protesters question circumstances surrounding 'Stop Cop City' activist's death". PBS. January 29, 2023. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[Queer-Cop-City-Protester-2] Factora, James (January 23, 2023). "Queer 'Cop City' Protestor Tortuguita Fatally Shot by Law Enforcement in Atlanta". Them. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[UK-Independent-autopsy-results-3] Marcus, Josh (April 21, 2023). "Autopsy strengthens case that 'Cop City' activist didn't fire first before being gunned down by police". The Independent. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

[4] Lacy, Akela (February 9, 2023). "Officer in Cop City Bodycam Footage Suggests Fellow Cop Was Shot by Friendly Fire". The Intercept. Archived from the original on February 11, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.

[Guardian-official-autopsy-results-5] Pratt, Timothy (April 20, 2023). "'Cop City' activist's official autopsy reveals more than 50 bullet wounds". The Guardian. Retrieved April 23, 2023.

[:8-6] Atlanta PD Bodycam – 1/18/23 Forest Raid: '39-3.mp4', archived from the original on March 6, 2023, retrieved March 6, 2023

[ajc1-7] Hughes, Rosana; Silva, Caroline. "Autopsy: Gunshot residue 'not seen' on activist killed at police training center". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

[CNN-autopsy-57-gunshot-wounds-8] Valencia, Nick; Sayers, Devon M.; Kirkland, Pamela (April 20, 2023). "Climate activist killed in 'Cop City' protest sustained 57 gunshot wounds, official autopsy says, but questions about gunpowder residue remain". CNN. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.

[9] Radde, Kaityln (March 11, 2023). "Autopsy reveals anti-'Cop City' activist's hands were raised when shot and killed". NPR. Archived from the original on March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2023.

[10] Papp, Jozsef. "Family: Activist's hands raised when shot by troopers near training center site". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.

[11] Binder, Alex (March 13, 2023). "Manuel 'Tortuguita' Terán's Independent Autopsy Report Released at Press Conference". Unicorn Riot. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.

[12] . name=":1b">Pratt, Timothy (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

[:9-13] "GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting Following Multi-Agency Operation at Site of Future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center". Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.

[:11-14] Alfonseca, Kiara (April 19, 2023). "DeKalb County releases autopsy in 'Cop City' protester Manuel Teran's death". ABC News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.

[15] "Georgia is seeking to define 'Cop City' protests as terrorism, experts say". TheGuardian.com. January 28, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[16] Mahdawi, Arwa (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.

[:1-17] Cheney Orr (January 21, 2023). "Atlanta protest against shooting death of activist briefly turns violent". Reuters. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.

[:6-18] Rowell, Andy (February 20, 2023). "Week of action begins demanding justice for the murder of "Cop City" forest defender". Oil Change International. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[:7-19] Pratt, Timothy (February 9, 2023). "'Cop City' opposition spreads beyond Georgia forest defenders". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[:5-20] "GBI Investigates Officer Involved Shooting Following Multi-Agency Operation at Site of Future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center". Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

[:10-21] "Atlanta Police Kill Forest Defender at Protest Encampment Near Proposed "Cop City" Training Center". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.

[:12-22] Sassoon, Alessandro Marazzi; Rojas, Rick (January 19, 2023). "Protester Killed in Firefight at Site of New Atlanta Police Center". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.

[:0-23] Fur, Lucy (January 23, 2023). "Marches and Vigils Across the US Respond to the Police Killing of Forest Defender Tort". Unicorn Riot. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.

[24] "Atlanta Public Safety Training Center Site Plans Hub – July 2022 Plans". October 20, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.

[25] "Person killed at Atlanta police training center site ID'd". The Washington Post. January 19, 2023.

[:3-26] Fox 5 digital team. "GBI: Gun used to shoot trooper at site of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center bought legally by suspect". Fox5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[:4-27] Proctor, Aungelique (January 25, 2023). "DA requests independent prosecutor in deadly shooting at future Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility". FOX 5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

[28] "Atlanta Police Kill Forest Defender at Protest Encampment Near Proposed "Cop City" Training Center". Democracy Now!. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

[:1b-29] Pratt, Timothy (January 21, 2023). "'Assassinated in cold blood': activist killed protesting Georgia's 'Cop City'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

[30] Rico, R.J. (January 29, 2023). "Protesters: 'Cop City' activist's killing doesn't make sense". AP News. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[31] "GA Bureau of Investigation, Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.

[32] "GBI: Gun found on protester was used to shoot trooper at future APD training site". Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.

[33] Kirkland, Pamela; Waldrop, Theresa (January 20, 2023). "7 charged with domestic terrorism after deadly shooting near proposed Atlanta police training facility". CNN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.

[34] Cara Tabachnick (January 26, 2023). "What we know about "Cop City" and the standoff between police, protesters in Atlanta". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023. the gun used in the shooting against the trooper was purchased by Terán in September 2020

[35] Enriquez, Alyza (February 9, 2023). "Atlanta Police Release Body Camera Footage of Activist Killing at 'Cop City'". Vice News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.

[Estep_Abusaid_2023-36] Estep, Tyler; Abusaid, Shaddi (February 8, 2023). "Atlanta police release footage of training center shooting aftermath". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.

[37] Unicorn Riot (February 8, 2023). "Atlanta PD Releases Bodycam Footage from Deadly Jan. 18 Forest Raid". Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.

[38] Owen, Tess (March 13, 2023). "Police Shot 'Stop Cop City' Activist 14 Times With Their Hands Up, Independent Autopsy Shows". Vice News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

[39] Rico, R.J. (March 13, 2023). "Autopsy report says 'Cop City' protester had hands raised when killed". PBS News. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

[autopsy-40] Sperry, M.D., Kris (March 13, 2023). "REPORT OF SECOND AUTOPSY" (PDF). Decaturish. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.

[41] Gowitt, Gerald (April 19, 2023). "Autopsy Report" (PDF). Fox 5 Atlanta.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[42] Pratt, Timothy (April 20, 2023). "'Cop City' activist's official autopsy reveals more than 50 bullet wounds". The Guardian.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[43] Estep, Tyler (January 24, 2023). "Arrests point to broad pull of protests against Atlanta training center". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.

[44] Stevens, Alexis (January 23, 2023). "2 granted $355K bond after Atlanta protest leads to rioting; 4 to stay in jail". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.

[45] "Atlanta Riots: 4 of 6 suspects arrested denied bond". WAGA-TV. January 23, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.

[46] "6 arrested after violent protesters cause mayhem, set APD car on fire in downtown Atlanta". WSBTV. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2023.

[47] "State of emergency declared over Atlanta 'Cop City' protest". Associated Press. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.

[48] Kousouris, Abby (February 2, 2023). "Ga. lawmakers consider mandating body cameras for police". WRDW. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.

[49] "Greenpeace USA calls for solidarity in response to the police killing of Atlanta forest defender Manuel 'Tortuguita' Terán". Greenpeace USA. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[50] Resilience (January 24, 2023). "Vigils for Tortuguita: Land Defenders Erupt in Solidarity". Resilience. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[51] Fur, Lucy (January 23, 2023). "Marches and Vigils Across the US Respond to the Police Killing of Forest Defender Tort". UNICORN RIOT. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 }}
-'''Manuel Esteban Paez Terán''',(Was/Were) also known as '''Tortuguita''', was a [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] [[non-binary]] [[environmental activist]] and [[Green anarchism|eco-anarchist]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Queer-Cop-City-Protester" /> who was shot and killed by a [[Georgia State Patrol]] trooper after an officer was wounded in the leg, from a bullet discharged from Manuels' gun, during a raid of the [[Stop Cop City]] encampment on January 18, 2023.
+'''Manuel Esteban Paez Terán''', also known as '''Tortuguita''', was a [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] [[non-binary]] [[environmental activist]] and [[Green anarchism|eco-anarchist]]<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Queer-Cop-City-Protester" /> who was shot and killed by a [[Georgia State Patrol]] trooper after an officer was wounded in the leg during a raid of the [[Stop Cop City]] encampment on January 18, 2023.
 Bodycam footage from the incident includes video recordings of police on the scene speculating that the officer's gunshot injury was the result of [[friendly fire]].<ref name="UK-Independent-autopsy-results">{{cite web |last1=Marcus |first1=Josh |title=Autopsy strengthens case that 'Cop City' activist didn’t fire first before being gunned down by police |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/tortuguita-shooting-atlanta-cop-city-b2324547.html |website=The Independent |access-date=23 April 2023 |date=April 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lacy |first=Akela |date=February 9, 2023 |title=Officer in Cop City Bodycam Footage Suggests Fellow Cop Was Shot by Friendly Fire |url=https://theintercept.com/2023/02/09/cop-city-body-camera-footage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211010948/https://theintercept.com/2023/02/09/cop-city-body-camera-footage/ |archive-date=February 11, 2023 |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Intercept |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Guardian-official-autopsy-results" /><ref name=":8">{{Citation |title=Atlanta PD Bodycam – 1/18/23 Forest Raid: '39-3.mp4' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sZMYjMKek |access-date=2023-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306055444/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3sZMYjMKek |url-status=live |language=en |archive-date=March 6, 2023}}</ref> Autopsy results show Terán sustained 57 gunshot wounds, and found no gunpowder residue on their hands, indicating that they had not fired at police.<ref name="ajc1" /><ref name="CNN-autopsy-57-gunshot-wounds">{{cite web |last1=Valencia |first1=Nick |last2=Sayers |first2=Devon M. |last3=Kirkland |first3=Pamela |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Climate activist killed in ‘Cop City’ protest sustained 57 gunshot wounds, official autopsy says, but questions about gunpowder residue remain |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/us/cop-city-activist-killed-dekalb-county-medical-examiner/index.html |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=CNN |archive-date=April 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421182141/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/us/cop-city-activist-killed-dekalb-county-medical-examiner/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time of the shooting, the family claims Terán's hands were up, based on independent autopsy results showing bullet exit wounds in both hands.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Radde |first=Kaityln |date=March 11, 2023 |title=Autopsy reveals anti-'Cop City' activist's hands were raised when shot and killed |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162843992/cop-city-atlanta-activist-autopsy |access-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-date=March 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312015814/https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162843992/cop-city-atlanta-activist-autopsy |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Papp |first=Jozsef |title=Family: Activist's hands raised when shot by troopers near training center site |language=English |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/family-activists-hands-were-raised-when-shot-by-police-at-training-center-site/Z2XUXBOELBD5ZKCK3ZYCMBSEXY/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |issn=1539-7459 |archive-date=March 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310233047/https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/family-activists-hands-were-raised-when-shot-by-police-at-training-center-site/Z2XUXBOELBD5ZKCK3ZYCMBSEXY/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Binder |first=Alex |date=March 13, 2023 |title=Manuel 'Tortuguita' Terán's Independent Autopsy Report Released at Press Conference |work=Unicorn Riot |url=https://unicornriot.ninja/2023/manuel-tortuguita-terans-independent-autopsy-report-released-at-press-conference/ |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313185434/https://unicornriot.ninja/2023/manuel-tortuguita-terans-independent-autopsy-report-released-at-press-conference/ |url-status=live }}</ref>