UPDATED, 5:55 pm PT: Rayshard Brooks’ autopsy results were just released on Sunday afternoon, and as expected based on some of the videos at the scene, officials are confident the cause of death her was gunshot wounds to the back. According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, Brooks suffered “organ damage and blood loss” from those gunshot wounds.
Interestingly, though, it sounds like the incident is already being investigated as a homicide. The Fulton County District Attorney released a statement on Sunday that suggests as much, saying (below):
“Today, members of my staff had the unfortunate duty of witnessing the autopsy of Mr. Brooks as part of our continued investigation. Because this is a homicide investigation, there are several technical requirements that must be met before we are able to reach a decision. That includes the confirmation of the ballistics involved and obtaining a preliminary report from the Medical Examiner.”
Wow…
Could they actually be on track for justice?!
We can only hope…
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Body camera footage from the two police officers involved in the Rayshard Brooks shooting in Atlanta this weekend has been released, and it shows a calm and cooperative Brooks talking with the officers in the minutes before his shooting.
As we reported yesterday, sadly, Brooks was killed after an altercation with two Atlanta cops who’d found him asleep in a Wendy’s drive thru. And as you can see in the video (above), things start out plenty cordial between the man and officers.
Related: Kamala Harris And Meghan McCain Clash Over ‘Defunding Police’ Amid Protests
Officer Garrett Rolfe is shown at the start of the video, asking Brooks about drinking and pressing him to take a field sobriety test. Brooks eventually admits he had a few drinks at his daughter’s birthday party, but that was it. He even offers to the cops that he could leave his car behind and walk home, though the officers decline that option and press further for field sobriety tests.
From there, things go further after the officers try to handcuff him, and the struggle ensues beyond that. As we reported earlier this weekend, Brooks appears to have grabbed one of the officers tasers at one point, before running away from them in an effort to get away. He turns around at one point while running, and is then shot three times.
Both of the officers, Rolfe and Devin Brosnan, have now been fired by the Atlanta Police Department. As we noted late yesterday evening, too, the department’s chief has also resigned over the shooting. It’s unclear if (or when) the officers will be charged in Brooks’ death, but at the very least there needs to be a truly independent, unbiased outside investigation into this whole thing.
What a tragedy, and just hours after his daughter’s birthday, no less. Why does falling asleep in a Wendy’s parking lot have to become a death sentence in this country?!
Later overnight, the Wendy’s at the center of the altercation and death burned to the ground — but as you can see below, some members of the community are calling foul as to who actually took part in destroying the building:
https://twitter.com/ImKingFola/status/1272012004539224066
Hmmm… Some strange stuff going around when it comes to who seems to be the ones destroying property in the last couple weeks… and it ain’t the peaceful protesters!
What do U think about this whole situation, Perezcious readers?
Sound off with your take on everything down in the comments (below)…
