Killing of Rayshard Brooks
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Overview
The Killing of Rayshard Brooks occurred on June 12th, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Police fatally shot Brooks, a 27-year-old black man, at a Wendy's drive-thru after he failed a sobriety test. According to authorities, Brooks stole a taser from police and fired it at them. Police then who shot Brooks in the back and killed him. Medical examiners ruled Brooks' death as a homicide. His death led to protests throughout Atlanta, the torching of the Wendy's restaurant where Brooks was killed and the resignation of the city's police chief and the firing of the officer who shot Brooks.
Background
On June 12th, 2020, police attempted to arrest Brooks for failing a sobriety test at a Wendy's drive-thru. Police were called after someone reported him sleeping in his car. According to the police, Brooks struggled with officers, stealing their taser and firing it at them as he attempting to flee the scene. Police shot Brooks in the back, killing him.[1]
Developments
Online Reaction
The following morning, the Twitter account @AfrDiasporaNews shared a video of the altercation. They wrote, "A Black unarmed man was shot in the back and killed at a Wendy’s in Atlanta, Ga last night. @KeishaBottoms This was first degree murder." The post received more than 262,000 views, 1,500 retweets and 1,200 likes in less than one week (shown below).
A Black unarmed man was shot in the back and killed at a Wendy’s in Atlanta, Ga last night. @KeishaBottoms This was first degree murder. pic.twitter.com/6ytfrLccnR
— African Diaspora News Channel (@AfrDiasporaNews) June 13, 2020
After he was shot, people gathered at the Wendy's to investigate the scene. That day, Twitter user @godfamilytravel shared a video of the gathering. They wrote, "HAPPENING NOW: Dozens of people have gathered at a scene where Atlanta Police along with GBI are investigating an officer involved shooting." The post recieved more than 231,000 views, 3,900 likes and 2,800 retweets in less than one week (shown below).
HAPPENING NOW: Dozens of people have gathered at a scene where Atlanta Police along with GBI are investigating an officer involved shooting. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/OqaZBJY7XQ
— Aiun Nettles (@godfamilytravel) June 13, 2020
On June 14th, Redditor [2] hildebrand_rarity shared the news that Brooks' autopsy had determined the cause of death to be a homicide. The post received more than 52,000 points (78% upvoted) and 8,000 comments in less than 24 hours.
Wendy's Restaurant Set on Fire
On the evening of June 13th, protesters, outraged over Brooks' killing, set the Wendy's restaurant where he was killed on fire (shown below).
On June 13th, Twitter user @ImKingFola posted a video of a white woman apparently setting fire to the Wendy's. They wrote, "I had to get this footage cause the media will make it seem like we burned this shit down #AtlantaProtest." The tweet received more than 6.6 million views, 241,000 likes and 144,000 retweets in less than one week (shown below).
I had to get this footage cause the media will make it seem like we burned this shit down #AtlantaProtest pic.twitter.com/mGi8kAYqUw
— Fola 🇳🇬👑✊🏿 (@ImKingFola) June 14, 2020
Redditor XGenShadow posted a video of the Wendy's on the /r/publicfreakout subreddit on June 14th. The post received more than 1,200 points (90% upvoted) and 1,200 comments in less than 24 hours (shown below).
Protesters in Atlanta set fire at Wendy's after Rayshard Brooks death from r/PublicFreakout
The following morning, the Atlanta Police Department tweeted, "@StopCrimeATL is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the individuals responsible for starting a fire that led to the destruction of a Wendy’s restaurant at 125 University Avenue. Call 404-577-TIPS (8477) or submit information online at https://bit.ly/2C72LMM." They included photographs of the masked white woman that they suspected for the fire (shown below).
Autopsy
On June 14th, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office reported that Brooks was shot twice in the back and died of organ damage and blood loss. They ruled the manner of death a homicide.[4]
Government Response
After announcing that the officer who killed Brooks had been fired, Police Chief Erika Shields resigned from the force. [3]
Media Coverage
Several media outlets covered the shooting, including The New York Times,[3] CNN,[4] The Guardian,[5] CBS,[6] The Daily Dot [7] and more.
Search Interest
Not available.
External References
[1] New York Times – How Rayshard Brooks Was Fatally Shot by the Atlanta Police
[3] New York Times – Atlanta’s chief stepped down, as pressure increases on police leaders.
[4] CNN – Autopsy report says Rayshard Brooks was shot twice in the back, lists manner of death as homicide
[5] The Guardian – Rayshard Brooks shooting: protesters set fire to Wendy's as police officer is sacked
[6] CBS – Who is Rayshard Brooks, 27-year-old black man killed by Atlanta police?
[7] The Daily Dot – Cops fatally shoot Black man after someone complained he was asleep in a Wendy’s drive-thru
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