A breakthrough in the investigation into the death of Rayshard Brooks, 27, who died Friday night when a white policeman was shot in a parking lot in Atlanta, Georgia. “We concluded that at the time of his death, Mr. Brooks did not represent an immediate threat” to the police, justified the Fulton County prosecutor, Paul Howard, on Wednesday, announcing that the ex-police officer – dismissed after these facts – had been indicted for the murder of this African American.
An arrest warrant has been issued against Garrett Rolfe, 27, as well as his former colleague Devin Brosnan, present at the time of the fatal arrest, who for his part is the subject of prosecution for assault. The death of this African-American, a few weeks after that of Georges Floyd, suffocated by the knee of a police officer, had revived protests in the face of police violence in the United States.
Asleep, drunk, in a parking lot
According to an official report from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), on the night of the tragedy, Rayshard Brooks fell asleep in his car on the drive-in driveway of a Wendy’s restaurant. His vehicle was blocking customers, so facility employees reported him to the police.
When agents tried to arrest the drunken man, “a physical struggle” began, the report said, during which “Brooks grabbed the Taser from one of the agents and fled.” As he followed him on foot, one of the police officers used his gun, as Rayshard Brooks pointed the taser at him. Wounded by bullets, this father of a little girl died in hospital.
VIDEO. Atlanta: an African-American killed by a policeman in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant
News of the fired cop’s indictment supports the position of lawyers for Brooks’ family who claim that the Atlanta police were prohibited from using firearm, while Brooks was armed of a non-lethal weapon. This drama also sparked the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields, whom she had led for 20 years.
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