More than two years after the fatal police shootings at African-American Rayshard Brooks in the American city of Atlanta, no charges have been filed against the two police officers involved. The use of force was justified, prosecutor Pete Skandalakis said Tuesday.
The charges against white officers Garret Rolfe and Devin Brosnan are now set to be dropped. Rolfe shot Rayshard Brooks in the back on June 12, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, as he tried to evade arrest. The African-American had fallen asleep drunk at the wheel of his car and blocked the entrance to a fast food restaurant.
Taser fired
Rolfe and Brosnan performed a breath analysis test and wanted to arrest the 27-year-old. Brooks, who was initially cooperative, then grabbed a stun gun from one of the officers, ran and fired the taser at the police officers. Rolfe opened fire and hit Brooks twice in the back.
The incident happened just weeks after the death of African-American George Floyd during a brutal police operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Brooks’s death sparked outrage and protests across the country, among other things.
Police officer initially arrested
The shooting police officer Rolfe was initially charged with murder and arrested. Prosecutor Skandalakis, however, defended him: “Given the rapidly changing circumstances, was it objectively justified for him to use lethal force? We conclude that it is.” A lawyer for the victim’s family previously criticized the decision, announcing that they would “continue their fight”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
