Prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks, who was killed by police during a DUI arrest after he fell asleep in his car at a Wendy’s drive-thru lane.Former Atlanta cop Garrett Rolfe, 27, has been charged with 11 counts—including felony murder—for opening fire on Brooks on June 12 at the fast-food chain’s crowded parking lot as he was running away, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said. After shooting him twice in the back, Rolfe then kicked the 27-year-old man “while he was lying on the ground,” the prosecutor said. “Mr. Brooks on the night of the incident was calm and cordial and displaced a cooperative nature. Secondly, even though Mr. Brooks was slightly impacted his demeanor during this incident was also jovial,” Howard said during an afternoon press conference.“Mr. Brooks never presented himself as a threat,” he added.Howard said that after Brooks was shot, he did not receive aid for two minutes—and the other officer at the scene, Devin Brosnan, stood on his shoulders “as he was fighting for his life.”“It is Atlanta law for an officer to render aid for someone after they’ve been shot,” he said.Brosnan, who has now become a state witness, also faces three charges, including aggravated assault and violation of oath. Howard said Brosnan’s decision to testify against his colleague marks the first time an officer has agreed to “testify against someone in his own department.”Atlanta Police Chief Quits, Fiery Protests Erupt After Black Man Shot DeadThe charges come days after Rolfe was fired in response to footage of the police killing that spurred a national outcry, the resignation of Atlanta’s police chief, and mass protests in Atlanta amid two weeks of nationwide unrest over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Brosnan was placed on administrative leave …read more
Source:: Yahoo News
