Atlanta Police Officer Charged For Rayshard Brooks Murder

The Black Lives Matter movement has another legal victory. Five days after killing a young black man, Rayshard Brooks, in Atlanta, United States, a former white police officer was charged with murder on Wednesday, June 17. Eleven charges have been brought against 27-year-old Garrett Rolfe, including "murder", which faces capital punishment in Georgia, Fulton County Attorney Paul Howard said at a press conference. 

"We concluded that at the time of his death, Mr. Brooks did not pose an immediate threat of death or serious injury to the officers," said the prosecutor.

pic.twitter.com/XTA704Z01q

A video revealed that the policeman had kicked his victim once he was down. This "does not reflect a feeling of fear towards Mr. Brooks, but another kind of emotion," said Paul Howard.

Another police officer present at the time of the fatal arrest, Devin Brosnan, was charged with assault and violation of his oath, in particular because he stood on the wounded man. He agreed to cooperate with the investigators. 

Arrest warrants were issued against the two men, who were given one day by the prosecutor to surrender.

Death by homicide, according to official autopsy

Employees of a fast-food restaurant called police on Friday evening because a sleepy person driving his car was blocking access to the drive-in. Upon arrival, the officers discovered Rayshard Brooks, 27, intoxicated. 

The young man was "cordial, calm, cooperative," said the prosecutor. The situation escalated when the officers wanted to arrest him. On images of the drama, we see him seizing the Taser of one of the police and fleeing. Agent Rolfe then opened fire. 

According to the official autopsy, Rayshard Brooks succumbed to a homicide after being shot twice in the back.

Garrett Rolfe was immediately dismissed from the police and his colleague assigned to administrative duties. Likewise, the mayor announced the "immediate" resignation of the police chief. 

But the drama has rekindled anger in the United States, alive since the death of George Floyd, an African-American asphyxiated by a white policeman from Minneapolis on May 25. 

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app