A
A POLICE
A POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED 27-YEAR-OLD RAYSHARD
OUTSIDE OF A WENDY'S ON
UNIVERSITY AVENUE AT SOUTHWEST
ATLANTA.
ATLANTA.
REPORTED.
REPORTED. THOUSANDS ARE SHARING THE
ONLINE.
ONLINE.
ONLINE. ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS SHOT
BROOKS.
BROOKS.
BROOKS. BROOKS GOT AHOLD OF THE TASER
AND STARTED RUNNING BEFORE THAT
SHOOTING.
SHOOTING.
SHOOTING. THE MAYOR SAYS SHE REFUSED THAT
FOOTAGE AND THEN ANNOUNCED HER
DECISION THIS AFTERNOON.
>> CHIEF SHIELDS HAS OFFERED
TO IMMEDIATELY STEP ASIDE AS
POLICE CHIEF.
POLICE CHIEF. SO THAT THE CITY MAY MOVE
FORWARD WITH URGENCY IN
REBUILDING THE TRUST SO
DESPERATELY NEEDED THROUGHOUT
OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, ATLANTA POLICE CHIEF
ERICA SHIELDS HAS RESIGNED FROM
HER POSITION.
HER POSITION. MAYOR BONHAM SAYS CHIEF SHIELDS
WILL REMAIN IN ANOTHER ROLE
WITH THE CITY OF ATLANTA.
AND BRYAN HAS
INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.
ALSO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN
CORRECTIONS.
CORRECTIONS. NOW, THE MAYOR ALSO SAYS THAT
SHE IS ASKING FOR THE IMMEDIATE
FIRING OF THE OFFICER WHO FIRED
THE SHOT THAT KILLED BROOKS.
WE HAVE TEAM COVERAGE OF THIS
DEVELOPING STORY TONIGHT
INCLUDING THE RESPONSES FROM
CITY OFFICIALS, LEADERS, AND
THE FAMILY OF RAYSHARD BROOKS,
PLUS HOW THE COMMUNITY AND
ACTIVISTS ARE REACTING TO ALL
OF THIS.
OF THIS.
OF THIS. LET'S GO FIRST TO HOPE FORD.
SHE IS IN CITY HALL WITH THE
LATEST ABOUT THE POLICE CHIEF'S
RESIGNATION AND THE
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS FOR THOSE
OFFICERS INVOLVED HAT THAT
WENDY'S.
WENDY'S.
WENDY'S. >>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
MAYOR BROOKS SAYS THIS WAS THE
THIRD TIME THIS WEEK THAT SHE
HAS SPENT THE DAY REVIEWING
BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
SHE SAYS THAT THE VIDEO SHE
WATCHED OVERLY SHOWS THE
OFFICERS TRYING TO ARREST
BROOKS WHO IS THEN SEEN
TUSSLING WITH THE OFFICER AND
BROOKS APPEARS TO RUN AWAY --
OR HE DOES RUN AWAY AND SHE
SAYS THE VIDEO SHOWS AT ONE
POINT HOPE APPEARS TO TURN OVER
HIS SHOULDER AND FIRE THE TASER
AT ONE OF THE OFFICERS.
THAT IS WHEN THE OFFICER SHOT
HIM.
HIM.
HIM. I
HIM. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO EXACTLY
WHAT THE MAYOR SAYS SHE
BELIEVERS AFTER SHE WATCHED
THAT VIDEO.
THAT VIDEO. >>> WHILE THERE
AS TO WHETHER THIS WAS AN
APPROPRIATE USE OF DEADLY
FORCE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT
THERE IS A CLEAR DISTINCTION
BETWEEN WHAT YOU CAN DO AND
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS
A JUSTIFIED USE OF DEADLY FORCE
AND HAVE CALLED FOR THE
IMMEDIATE TERMINATION OF THE
OFFICER.
OFFICER.
OFFICER. >> AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
SHE REVIEWS THE CITY THAT IS
THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
TALKING ABOUT. NOW, THE OTHER OFFICER SEEN IN
THE VIDEO.
THE VIDEO. HE HAS BEEN PLACED ON
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTY, AND THE
MAYOR SAYS THAT AS FAR AS THE
RESIGNATION OF NOW FORMER CHIEF
SHIELDS, SHIELDS OFFERED HER
RESIGNATION AND THE MAYOR DID
ACCEPT IT.
ACCEPT IT. WE KNOW RODNEYEN BRYANT IS NOW
THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND A
NATIONWIDE SEARCH IS GOING TO
TAKE PLACE FOR A PERMANENT
REPLACEMENT.
REPLACEMENT. >>> HOPE FORD OUTSIDE OF CITY
HALL.
HALL.
HALL. THANK YOU, HOPE.
>> LET'S GO TO DOUG RICHARDS.
HE IS AT THE WENDY'S WHERE ALL
THIS HAPPENED ON UNIVERSITY
AVENUE.
AVENUE.
AVENUE. IN SOUTHWEST ATLANTA,
PROTESTERS ARE GATHERED.
WE UNDERSTAND THE GBI HAS
RELEASED SOME NEW VIDEO OF THIS
INCIDENT FROM ABOUT 10:30 LAST
NIGHT.
NIGHT.
NIGHT. >>
NIGHT. >> THROUGH THAT, THIS HAPPENED
AS YOU SAID IN THE PARKING LOT
OF THIS WENDY'S HERE, AND THERE
ARE SEVERAL SOURCES OF VIDEO.
THERE WERE CELL PHONE VIDEOS.
THERE WAS BODY CAM VIDEO, BUT
THE GBI DIRECTOR VICK REYNOLDS
SAYS THAT SOME OF THE MOST
COMPELLING VIDEO WAS FROM THE
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AT THE
RESTAURANT.
RESTAURANT. THIS WAS THE MAN SUSPECTED OF
DUI WHO POLICE SAY GRABBED A
POLICE TASER AND FLED.
AND BEFORE WE SHOW THE VIDEO,
WE'LL LET REYNOLDS DESCRIBE
WHAT IT SHOWS.
>> HE IS FLOWING FROM THE
ATLANTA POLICE OFFICERS.
AS HE IS FLEEING, HE TURNS BACK
OVER HIS SHOULDER WITH WHAT
APPEARS TO THE NAKED EYE TO BE
A TASER THAT EYEWITNESSES SAID
THEY SAW THE INDIVIDUAL HAVE
THAT BELONGED TO ONE OF THE
OFFICERS.
OFFICERS.
OFFICERS. AS HE TURNED IT OVER, YOU'LL BE
ABLE TO SEE ON THE VIDEO THE
ATLANTA OFFICER LITERALLY REACH
DOWN TO GET HIS SERVICE WEAPON.
AS HE GETS HIS WEAPON, MR.
BROOKS BEGINS TURNING HIS BODY
AWAY FROM HIM, I PRESUME TO
FLEE.
FLEE.
FLEE. IT
FLEE. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS WHEN THE
DISCHARGE GOES OFF.
>> SO THERE ARE BLUE LIGHTS ON
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
YOU WILL SEE A MAN RUN TO THE
RIGHT WITH TWO POLICE OFFICERS
CHASING HIM.
CHASING HIM. IT APPEARS THAT THE FLEEING MAN
TURNED.
TURNED.
TURNED. YOU EVEN SEE A SMALL FLAG.
IT MAY NOT BE THE TASER FIRING,
AND THEN IT ENDS VERY QUICKLY
WITH THE MAN MORTALLY WOUNDED
FROM A POLICE GUNSHOT.
THIS VIDEO OR PORTIONS OF IT
ARE AVAILABLE ALSO ON
11ALIVE.COM.
11ALIVE.COM. REYNOLDS SAYS THAT THE VIDEO
WILL BE DIGITALLY ENHANCED AND
THEN TURN OVER AS PART OF AN
INVESTIGATIVE PACKAGE TO THE
FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
FOR STEPS THAT THAT AGENCY MAY
WANT TO TAKE IN THIS CASE.
JEFF, BACK TO YOU.
>>> ALL RIGHT, DOUG, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR THAT.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE HAVE
REPORTERS ALL ACROSS THE METRO
COVERING THIS.
COVERING THIS. WE WANT TO
HAS BEEN THERE
SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY.
YOU CAN SEE THE PROTESTER WHO
IS ARE HERE NOW.
THEY WERE HERE WITHIN MACHINE
MINUTES OF THOSE SHOTS BEING
FIRED LAST NIGHT.
WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE BROOKS
FAMILY THIS MORNING, THEY TELL
US BLOCKS WAS A HUSBAND AND
FATHER WHO WAS SIMPLY GOING TO
GET SOMETHING TO EAT AND DID
NOT DESERVE TO DIE AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE.
OF POLICE. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR EMOTIONAL
INTERVIEW.
INTERVIEW. >> I WATCHED THIS ON THE
INTERNET, FROM THE WHOLE FLOOR
SITUATION, SO COMING TOGETHER
LIKE WE ARE DOING SOMETHING,
AND THIS WHOLE THING LANDED ON
MY DOORSTEP.
MY DOORSTEP. I SAW THE VIDEO.
I JUST THINK FOR ME, IT -- THE
MOST HURTFUL THING FOR ME IS TO
WAKE UP AND WATCH THAT VIDEO.
I GOT TWO LITTLE BOYS.
THEY SEE THE SAME VIDEO.
THAT IS WHAT HURTS SO MUCH.
I JUST -- I THOUGHT WE WERE
BIGGER THAN THAT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE ENOUGH
NOISE THAT THEY INVESTIGATE
THIS SITUATION.
THIS SITUATION. THAT IS ALL I WANT.
INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION.
DON'T LET RAYSHARD DIE IN VEIN
LIKE THAT.
LIKE THAT. WE ARE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN IN
SO MANY YEARS.
THE YOUNG BLACK BOYS AROUND THE
COUNTRY DYING IN VEIN.
>> AND WE ALSO SPOKE TO
ATTORNEY JERALD GRIGGS WHO ALSO
LEADS THE ATLANTA NAACP.
HE SAYS THE CITY NEEDS TO ADMIT
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH POLICE
BRUTALITY.
BRUTALITY. HERE IS SOME OF THAT INTERVIEW.
>> ANOTHER POLICE-INVOLVED
SHOOTING IN THIS CITY.
AND WE SAID IT BEFORE AND WE'LL
SAY IT AGAIN.
ATLANTA HAS A POLICE BRUTALITY
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM.
PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T START WITH OUR DEAR
BROTHER, MR. BROOKS.
IT GOES BACK ALL THE WAY BACK
TO CATHRYN JOHNSON.
ALL THE WAY BACK TO CORY WARD,
AND THE CITY HAS TO ADDRESS
THAT HE SHOULD BE THE LAST ONE
IN ATLANTA.
IN ATLANTA. IF THE MAYOR IS SERIOUS ABOUT
DEALING WITH THIS, HE NEEDS TO
SPEAK TO THIS FAMILY, AND SHE
NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE
CONCRETE POLICY CHANGES THAT
REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THIS CITY.
>> AND AS WE MENTIONED AT THE
TOP OF THE SHOW, CHIEF SHIELDS
HAS RESIGNED AND PROTESTERS SAY
THEY PLAN TO STAY OUT HERE
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT.
TONIGHT. THEY ARE GEARING UP FOR A
LARGER PROTEST HAPPENING HERE
TONIGHT AT 8:00.
SOME OF THEM HAVE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT ALL ISSUES
LEADING TO THIS INTERSECTION
BEING CLOSED.
BEING CLOSED. WE ARE NOT SURE IF THOSE
STREETS WILL WILL REMAIN CLOSED
OR OPEN BACK UP BEFORE THEM.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF
PROTESTERS THAT ARE GATHERING
RIGHT NOW NEAR CENTENNIAL
OLYMPIC PARK.
OLYMPIC PARK. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE RIGHT
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. PREVIOUSLY-PLANNED PROTESTS FOR
TODAY ARE NOW ADAPTING AND
RESPONDING TO THE SHOOTING THAT
HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST 24
HOURS HERE IN ATLANTA.
WE HAVE JOHN CERICK WHO IS LIVE
WITH US RIGHT NOW FROM
CENTENNIAL PARK.
CENTENNIAL PARK. WHAT IS THE MOOD HERE
CONSIDERING NOW THAT WE HAVE AN
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING THAT
IS AFFECTING THE CITY DIRECTLY?
>> THERE IS AN ADDED SENSE OF
URGENCY IF THAT IS POSSIBLE TO
EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING
ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS.
WEEKS.
WEEKS. THE CROWD WAS FILLING THIS
INTERSECTION UNTIL JUST A
MOMENT AGO AND THEY BEGAN TO
MARCH DOWN MAR YET THAT STREET.
I ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF THE MAYOR
ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF
THE POLICE CHIEF.
MANY PEOPLE SAID CHANGE HAS TO
HAPPEN AND CHANGE NEEDS THE
START FROM THE TOP.
OTHERS SAID GO FURTHER.
OTHERS SAY WHAT ABOUT THE
SUPERVIE STORES?
SUPERVIE STORES? WHAT RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THEY
BEAR?
BEAR?
BEAR? OTHERS SAY THE MAYOR NEEDS TO
TAKE THE NEXT STEP, TO DEFUND
THE POLICE.
THE POLICE. THEY MEAN REDIRECT MONEY AWAY
FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE VARIOUS SOCIAL PROGRAMS
THAT THEY BELIEVE WILL HELP THE
COMMUNITY AND PREVENT CRIME AND
ALSO BE MAKE THE COMMUNITY
SAFER.
SAFER.
SAFER. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE DON'T SEE
HERE.
HERE.
HERE. WE
HERE. WE DON'T SEE A HUGE POLICE
PRESENCE.
PRESENCE.
PRESENCE. JUST A FEW POLICE OFFICERS DUNE
ON MAR YET THAT STREET
BASICALLY HELPING ESCORT THE
MARCHERS DOWN MAR YET THAT
STREET TOWARDS FIVE POINTS.
I THINK THAT IS BY DESIGN.
YOU KNOW THEY HAVE HAD A BIG
SHOW OF FORCE, SO MANY OF THOSE
NIGHTS THE LAST COUPLE OF
WEEKS, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE
CERTAINLY GOING TO SHOW US
FORCE IS NOT NECESSARY RIGHT
NOW TO KEEP THE POLICE.
THEY BELIEVE THEY WANT TO GIVE
ALL THE ROOM POSSIBLE TO
EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
RIGHTS.
RIGHTS. >> JOHN, THANK.
YOU.
YOU.
YOU. >>>
YOU. >>> MEANWHILE, THE FULCOMB
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PAUL
HOWARD SAID IN A STATEMENT, HIS
OFFICE IS LAUNCHING HIS OWN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE
SHOOTING.
SHOOTING.
SHOOTING. HE IS ASKING THE PUBLIC AND ANY
POTENTIAL WITNESSES TO CONTACT
HIS OFFICE IF THEY HAVE ANY
INFORMATION.
INFORMATION. MR. HOWARD RECENTLY CHARGED SIX
APD OFFICERS FOR THEIR
INVOLVEMENT IN THE PHASING AND
ARREST OF TWO STUDENTS DURING
THE PROTEST DOWNTOWN TWO
SATURDAYS AGO.
SATURDAYS AGO. AT THE TIME, THE MOVE WAS
CONDEMNED BY POLICE CHIEF ERICA
SHIELDS WHO CALLED IT
POLITICAL.
POLITICAL. >>> AT LEAST TWO ATLANTA CITY
COUNCIL MEMBERS STOPPED BY THE
SCENE TODAY TO TALK WITH
PROTESTERS AND ERR THEIR
FRUSTRATIONS.
FRUSTRATIONS. MARA SIRIANI HAS THEIR STORY.
>>> WITHIN HOURS OF THE
SHOOTING, WORD OF WHAT HAD
HAPPENED HERE IN ATLANTA WAS
TRENDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REACTING
TO AND VERY VOCAL ABOUT VIDEO
OF THAT INCIDENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOYCE SHEPARD OF
SEES DISTRICT 12 WHERE BROOKS
WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
TODAY, SHE RETURNED TO THE
WENDY'S FOR AN EMOTIONAL
CONVERSATION WITH PROTESTERS.
>> UNJUSTIFIED.
>> UNJUSTIFIED. >> Reporter: ATLANTA ACTIVIST
AND ATTORNEY JERALD GRIGGS
TWEETING THIS VIDEO OF THE
INCIDENT.
INCIDENT.
INCIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ANTONIO GROWN
GOT THE CALL AROUND 1:30
SATURDAY MORNING AND RUSHED TO
IS SCENE.
IS SCENE.
IS SCENE. >> THERE WAS ALREADY SO MUCH
STUFF HAPPENING THAT I JUST
REACTED IMMEDIATELY AND TRIED
TO DEESCALATE THE CROWD THAT
WAS THERE THAT WAS REALLY
UPSET.
UPSET.
UPSET. I
UPSET. I MEAN, THEY WERE FURIOUS.
>> Reporter: BROWN AND SHEPARD
BOTH QUESTIONING THE OFFICER'S
USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE.
>> RUNNING AWAY FROM THE
POLICE OFFICER.
POLICE OFFICER. HE DOESN'T HAVE A GUN.
IS THERE ANY REASON FOR THEM TO
SHOOT HIM?
SHOOT HIM? NO.
NO.
NO. >>
NO. >> Reporter: BROWN SAYS HE HAS
HAD ENOUGH.
HAD ENOUGH. WAITING AROUND FOR CHANGE TO
HAPPEN WHILE MORE AND MORE
BLACK PEOPLE DIED AT THE HANDS
OF OFFICERS IS SOMETHING HE
WON'T STAND FOR.
>> WE HAVE TO ACT NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THE MAYOR HAS A
TASK FORCE HE HAS PUT TOGETHER,
BUT WE NEED TO GET AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER ADDRESSING EXCESSIVE
FORCE IMMEDIATELY, OR CITY
COUNCIL IMMEDIATE NEEDS TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH PASSING IMMEDIATE
LEGISLATION AROUND EXCESSIVE
FORCE.
FORCE.
FORCE. >>
FORCE. >> INVESTIGATORS ARE COMBING
OVER THAT BYSTANDER SLID OWE,
BODY CAMERA VIDEO, AND ANY
OTHER ADDITIONAL VIDEO FROM
NEARBY BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM
IN THIS INVESTIGATION.
>>> AND THAT WAS AL REPORTING
THERE.
THERE.
THERE. WE
THERE. WE WANT TO TAKE YOU LIVE TO
DOWNTOWN ATLANTA RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS RIGHT OUTSIDE
CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK AND
ACROSS FROM THE CNN CENTER.
AND JUST MOMENTS AGO, WE SAW
HUNDREDS OF PROTESTERS WHO WERE
GATHERED THERE, BUT RIGHT NOW,
YOU DON'T SEE THEM BECAUSE THEY
ARE MARCHING IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA.
AREA.
AREA. SO
AREA. SO THEY HAVE MOVED AWAY FROM
THIS AREA.
THIS AREA. THE MAR YET THAT STREET AREA,
AND ARE WALKING AROUND DOWNTOWN
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. WE'LL CONTINUE MONITORING THIS
AREA OF DOWNTOWN WHERE
PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN GATHERED
FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND
PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY,
AND IN LIGHT OF ALL OF THIS
THAT HAPPENED IN THE