Killing of Rayshard Brooks

On the night of June 12, 2020, Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old African American man, was fatally shot by Atlanta Police Department (APD) officer Garrett Rolfe. APD officer Devin Brosnan was responding to a complaint that a man (Brooks) was asleep in a car blocking a Wendy's restaurant drive-through lane. At the scene, Brosnan radioed for assistance, and Rolfe arrived some minutes later. Rolfe conducted a breathalyzer exam which indicated that Brooks's blood-alcohol content was above the legal limit for driving. Rolfe and Brosnan began to handcuff Brooks, at which point Brooks fought with the officers, got hold of Brosnan's taser, punched Rolfe, and ran away. Rolfe pursued Brooks on foot. Brooks half-turned and fired the taser toward Rolfe; Rolfe then fired his weapon three times at Brooks, hitting him twice from behind. A third shot struck an occupied car. Brooks died after surgery.

Killing of Rayshard Brooks
Image from Devin Brosnan's bodycam showing Rayshard Brooks (left) and Garrett Rolfe
DateJune 12, 2020 (2020-06-12)
Time11:23 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
LocationAtlanta, Georgia, United States
Coordinates33°43′18.4″N 84°23′31.3″W
Charges

Footage of the incident, recorded from the officers' bodycams, a witness's phone and the restaurant's security system, was widely broadcast. Police chief Erika Shields resigned one day later; that same day, Rolfe was fired and Brosnan was placed on administrative duty. Rolfe was charged with felony murder and ten other offenses; Brosnan with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.

People involved

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 a February 2020 interview he discussed the two years 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.[6][7]

Garrett Rolfe had been a police officer in the Atlanta Police Department since 2013. He was part of APD units specializing in DUI enforcement.[8] In 2016, he received a written reprimand for aiming his gun at a stolen car being pursued.[9] In May 2019, he was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving for making more than 50 DUI arrests the previous year.[8] In early 2020, he undertook training in the use of deadly force and in de-escalation.[8]

Devin Brosnan has been an Atlanta police officer since 2018.[10]

Death
External video
Brosnan's body camera on YouTube (Rolfe moves to handcuff Brooks at 43:00)
Rolfe's body camera on YouTube (Rolfe moves to handcuff Brooks at 29:00)
Witness video of Brooks, Rolfe, and Brosnan struggling on YouTube
Security camera video showing Rolfe shooting Brooks and subsequent events on YouTube

At 10:42 p.m. on Friday, 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[8] 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%.[8] 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 glanced back, half-turned, and fired the second shot of Brosnan's taser  – capable of two shots before being reloaded[18] – in Rolfe's direction.[11][19]

According to prosecutors, Brooks and Rolfe were 18 feet (5.5 m) apart[21][lower-alpha 1] 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, disputed by Rolfe's attorneys,[24] Rolfe then said "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.[25]

Employment actions

The next day, Rolfe was fired and Brosnan was placed on administrative duty.[8] On August 4, Rolfe's attorneys filed a lawsuit against Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Acting Police Chief Rodney Bryant for unlawful dismissal, seeking Rolfe's reinstatement, along with back pay and benefits.[26][27]

Prosecution

Following standard procedure, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) opened an investigation.[28] The county medical examiner ruled Brooks' death a homicide.[29]

On June 17, while the GBI investigation was still ongoing, Paul Howard, the Fulton County District Attorney (DA), announced eleven charges against Rolfe: felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, four police oath violations, and damage to property.[30] Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and two counts of violation of oath.[31][32] Howard argued the taser Brooks had taken posed no danger, as after being fired twice it could not fire again; that Rolfe and Brosnan did not provide timely medical aid to Brooks for over two minutes; and alleged that Rolfe kicked him and Brosnan stood on his shoulders;[22] and that it was a violation of department policy for Rolfe to begin handcuffing Brooks before telling him he was being arrested.[16][20]

Brosnan was released on June 18 after posting a $50,000 signature bond.[33] Around June 18, the Georgia Law Enforcement Organization, a law enforcement nonprofit, began raising funds for Rolfe to pay his legal fees, raising $500,000 by August 13.[34][35][36] Rolfe was released on July 1 on a $500,000 bond with conditions.[37][38]

On or about July 14, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr requested that the GBI widen its investigation into the Fulton County DA's office, headed by Howard, to determine whether grand jury subpoenas seeking information about Rolfe were legally issued. Howard was already the subject of a GBI investigation concerning his use of a nonprofit to funnel almost $200,000 of city funds into his personal bank account.[39][40]

On July 20, Rolfe's attorney filed a motion seeking to have DA Howard recused from the Rolfe prosecution on the basis that he would be called as a necessary witness by the defense to answer regarding statements he made that the attorney alleged were “ethically inappropriate" and actions that allegedly "systematically sought to deprive Garrett Rolfe of a fair trial and impartial jury."[39]

During the week of August 2, the DA's office applied to obtain a search warrant to gain information about the fundraising site set up for Rolfe, attempting to obtain information including on who had established the site, how much money had been raised, and where the money went, representing it wanted the information to support a possible bond violation charge. One of Rolfe's attorneys condemned the request stating, "...he [DA Howard] sought to uncover the private information of Americans who donated to Garrett Rolfe’s defense because they believed in his innocence." Subsequently, a judge denied the warrant application.[36]

On August 4, the day Rolfe's attorneys filed the lawsuit for reinstatement, the DA's office filed a motion to revoke Rolfe's bond, alleging that Rolfe had traveled to Florida without permission.[41][26][27] Rolfe's attorneys filed a response with the court stating the bond conditions neither placed Rolfe on house arrest/home confinement, nor was he prohibited from traveling out of state, and that they had, as a courtesy, notified prosecutors of his travel via email prior to traveling.[42] On August 12, the presiding judge refused to revoke Rolfe's bond, but amended it prohibiting out of state travel.[43]

On August 12, DA Howard was defeated in his bid for re-election.[44]

Reactions
Memorial for Brooks at the place of his death

Demonstrators gathered at the site of the shooting beginning June 12.[45] On June 13, protesters set fire to the Wendy's restaurant outside which Brooks was shot as well as several nearby cars, and broke a television camera.[46][47][48] A woman acquainted with Brooks was charged with first-degree arson in connection with the restaurant fire.[49] Protests continued in the area around the Wendy's, there were problems with armed protesters closing adjacent streets with barriers, and on July 4 an 8-year-old girl was killed when the car she was riding in was shot at by protesters.[50]

On June 13, Atlanta's police chief Erika Shields resigned; Mayor 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."[51][52][53] On June 15, Mayor Bottoms ordered the Atlanta Police Department to overhaul its use-of-force policies.[54] On January 6, 2021 it was announced Shields would become the new Chief of Police for the Louisville, KY police department.[55]

Beginning the day after charges against Rolfe were announced, Atlanta police officers called in sick for their shifts, staging a "blue flu" protest.[56][57][58] In the four days from June 17 to 20, about 170 officers called in sick and officers in 3 out of the city's 6 police zones did not respond to calls.[59] On the evening of June 19 every police officer failed to report for duty in Zone 5, leaving only the three supervisors.[60] Atlanta's Acting Police Chief Bryant said that the department had "to shift resources to insure proper coverage" due to police absenteeism.[61] Total arrests citywide dropped by 71% during the sickout.[62] Mayor Bottoms said the sickout was a reaction to two weeks of strife during which eight APD officers were criminally charged in two separate incidents, sinking morale "ten-fold."[21][63] On June 18, the Atlanta Police Foundation, a private nonprofit group, announced that all APD officers would receive a one-time $500 bonus for continuing to work through the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent George Floyd protests.[64][65]

On July 6, police and sanitation workers began to remove the memorial to Brooks at the place of his death.[66] The burned Wendy's was demolished.[67]

See also

Notes
  1. Tasers have a range of about 15 feet (4.6 m).[22]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Justin Carissimo (June 16, 2020). "Who is Rayshard Brooks, 27-year-old black man killed by Atlanta police?". CBS News.
  3. Danner, Chas (June 14, 2020). "Everything We Know About the Killing of Rayshard Brooks by Atlanta Police". Intelligencer. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  4. Reyes, Lorenzo (June 18, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks opened up about struggles, incarceration months before death. He wasn't going to 'give up'". USA Today.
  5. Levenson, Eric (June 24, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks remembered as a hard-working father kept down by a racist legal system". CNN. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  6. Strassmann, Mark (June 19, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks On Probation At The Time Of His Death". WUPA.
  7. St. Henry, Meredith (June 19, 2020). "Officer Garrett Rolfe Held Without Bond For Killing of Rayshard Brooks". WWTV.
  8. 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.
  9. Shammas, Brittany (June 20, 2020). "Ex-Atlanta officer charged with killing Rayshard Brooks reprimanded for pointing gun at car in 2016". The Washington Post.
  10. Bynum, Russ; Anderson, Brynn (June 14, 2020). "'Stop fighting!' Atlanta sobriety test quickly turned deadly". Associated Press. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  11. 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.
  12. "Rayshard Brooks: What happened before police shot him dead?". BBC News. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  13. 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.
  14. Sharpe, Joshua; Walker, Marlon; Boone, Christian (June 19, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks' final 41 minutes". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  15. Kelly, Cara (June 17, 2020). "Rayshard Brooks video: Legal scholars break down key moments in shooting timeline". USA Today. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  16. 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.
  17. "Rayshard Brooks shooting: US policeman faces murder charge". BBC News. June 18, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  18. 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.
  19. Sullum, Jacob (June 15, 2020). "Was the Shooting of Rayshard Brooks 'Lawful but Awful'?". Reason. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. Brumback, Kate (June 17, 2020). "Officer charged with murder for shooting Rayshard Brooks". Associated Press. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  23. 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.
  24. Thanawala, Sudhin (July 20, 2020). "Attorneys For Former Atlanta Officer Charged In Rayshard Brooks' Slaying Want Prosecutor Removed". wabe.org. WABE. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  25. 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.
  26. Wise, Alana (August 5, 2020). "Former Atlanta Police Officer Who Shot Rayshard Brooks Sues City Over Firing". npr.org. NPR. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  27. Stevens, Alexis (August 5, 2020). "Ex-Atlanta officer charged in Rayshard Brooks' death sues to get job back". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  28. Bynum, Russ; Anderson, Brynn (June 13, 2020). "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.
  29. "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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. "Ex-Atlanta officer charged with murder, aggravated assault in Rayshard Brooks shooting". KIRO-TV. June 17, 2020.
  33. St. Henry, Meredith (June 19, 2020). "Officer Garrett Rolfe Held Without Bond For Killing of Rayshard Brooks". WWTV. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  34. O'Kane, Caitlin (June 19, 2020). "Georgia nonprofit raises funds for legal fees of officer charged with murder of Rayshard Brooks". cbsnews.com. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  35. Anaya, Leah (June 18, 2020). "Atlanta Officer Rolfe could face the death penalty or life in prison. Here's the fundraiser to help him fight back". Law Enforcement Today. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  36. Rankin, Bill (August 13, 2020). "Fulton DA is denied warrant to probe Garrett Rolfe fundraising site". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  37. Watson, Andrea V.(June 30, 2020). "Former Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe Granted $500,000 Bond - A Fulton County judge granted bond for the officer charged with murder in the shooting of Rayshard Brooks". patch.com. Patch Media. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  38. Kirkland, Pamela; Barajas, Angela (July 1, 2020). "Former Atlanta police officer who shot Rayshard Brooks is released from jail". cnn.com. Cable News Network.Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  39. Boone, Christian (July 20, 2020). "Attorney for Garrett Rolfe seeks Fulton DA's recusal". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  40. Rankin, Bill (July 14, 2020). "GBI investigating Fulton DA's use of subpoenas in Rayshard Brooks case". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  41. Boone, Christian; Stevens, Alexis (August 5, 2020). "Ex-Atlanta officer wants his job back, Rayshard Brooks' widow wants him in jail". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  42. Brumback, Kate (August 7, 2020). "Garrett Rolfe's lawyers say trip didn't break bond conditions". WGXA. Associated Press. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  43. Stevens, Alexis (August 12, 2020). "Bond not revoked for officer accused in Rayshard Brooks' death". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  44. Boone, Christian (August 12, 2020). "Fani Willis unseats 6-term Fulton DA Paul Howard". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  45. Maher, Kris (June 13, 2020). "Protests Planned in Atlanta After Police Shooting of Black Man". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  46. "Rayshard Brooks shooting: Protesters block traffic on Atlanta highway". WJAX. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  47. 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.
  48. 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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  49. Ellis, Ralph (June 24, 2020). "Woman charged in Atlanta Wendy's arson given $10,000 bond in first court hearing". CNN. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  50. Burns, Asia Simone (July 5, 2020). "Police ID 8-year-old shot, killed; $10,000 reward offered in case; Atlanta mayor: 'Enough is Enough'". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  51. Siegel, Rachel (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta police chief resigns after law enforcement fatally shoots black man". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  52. Osborne, Mark; Hoyos, Joshua (June 13, 2020). "Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigns in wake of fatal shooting". ABC News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  53. 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.
  54. Fausset, Richard; Rojas, Rick (June 15, 2020). "Atlanta Mayor Tightens Rules on When Police Can Use Force". New York Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  55. Costello, Darcy (January 6, 2021). "Erika Shields, Atlanta chief during Rayshard Brooks shooting, to lead Louisville police". The Courier Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  56. 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.
  57. Cohen, Seth (June 18, 2020). "As Atlanta Police Protest, Is "Blue Flu" The Next Pandemic?". Forbes. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  58. "Atlanta police sickout calls continue for third day". 11Alive.com.
  59. Silverman, Hollie; Sanchez, Ray (June 27, 2020). "About 170 Atlanta officers called out sick after cops were charged in Rayshard Brooks' death". CNN.
  60. "Atlanta police sickout calls continue for third day". WXIA-TV.
  61. Collin Kelley, Interim Atlanta police chief addresses officer sickout in wake of Rayshard Brooks charges, Reporter Newspapers (June 21, 2020).
  62. Belcher, Richard (June 22, 2020). "Crime numbers across Atlanta drop dramatically after protests, records show". WSBTV. Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  63. Cohen, Li (June 18, 2020). "Atlanta police department morale "is down ten-fold," Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says". CBS News.
  64. Daniel Villarreal (June 18, 2020). "NYPD Mulls 'Strike', Atlanta Police Get $500 Bonus As Protests Sap Morale". Newsweek.
  65. Bowden, John (June 18, 2020). "Foundation to provide Atlanta police with one-time $500 bonus for work during protests". The Hill.
  66. Watson, Andrea V. (July 6, 2020). "Atlanta Police Remove Memorial Outside Wendy's After Shootings". Patch. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  67. Sanchez, Ray (July 14, 2020). "Atlanta Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed has been demolished". CNN. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.