Atlanta Man Fatally Shot In Wendy’s Drive-Thru By Police
Atlanta resident Rayshard Brooks was reportedly shot and killed by police on Friday (June 12) during a struggle with officers in a Wendy’s drive-thru line.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, the incident began at around 10:30 p.m. outside the fast food chain on University Avenue. Officers were then called to the restaurant after receiving a complaint about a man asleep in his vehicle, which forced other customers to go around his car to buy food at the window.
The 27-year-old was subsequently given a field sobriety test, which GBI claims he failed.
“After failing the test, the officers attempted to place the male subject into custody,” GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said. “During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser.”
Police then claim Brooks managed to take the Taser away from an officer before being shot. He was taken to the hospital and later died.
Cellphone video captured by a Wendy’s customer appears to show two officers struggling with Brooks on the ground in the barking lot before he’s seen running away from police prior to being shot.
Friday’s incident comes amidst nationwide protest over police brutality, which was sparked by George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police.
Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on May 25. Four former officers have since been arrested and charged for their involvement in the 46-year-old’s death, including Chauvin, who was initially charged with third-degree murder and second degree manslaughter.
On Wednesday (June 3), Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison upgraded the charges against Chauvin to Second Degree murder for the death of Floyd on and also charged the three other officers involved, J Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane with aiding and abetting murder. The three officers were fired and have remained under investigation since the day after Floyd died.
