The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved a $1 million settlement with the widow of Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old black man who was fatally shot by a police officer after a fight in June 2020.
The shooting came just weeks after George Floyd was killed by a Minneapolis police officer and sparked protests across the United States.
Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Georgia Board of Prosecutors, was appointed special prosecutor in the Brooks case. Skandalakis determined in August that the use of deadly force was “objectively reasonable,” saying he doesn’t believe race played a role in the shooting.
This screenshot taken from body camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks speaking with Officer Garrett Rolfe in the parking lot of a Wendy’s restaurant, Friday, June 12, 2020, in Atlanta.
(Atlanta Police Department via AP)
“This is not one of those cases,” he said. “This is a case where the officers were willing to give Mr. Brooks the full benefit of the doubt and, sadly, because of his actions, this is what happened.”
Meanwhile, Brooks’s family said they were disappointed charges were not filed against the officers.
This screenshot taken from dash cam video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks, center, struggling with officers.
(Atlanta Police Department via AP)
“This grieving family has been through a lot during this process. Although Mr. Brooks’ children have lost their father, resolving the case will certainly help them with future plans as they come of age,” attorneys for the family said. family in a statement. on Monday.
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Police were called to the Wendy’s parking lot on June 12, 2020 by a man sleeping in the driveway.
Body camera footage shows officers talking calmly with Brooks for about 40 minutes, but the encounter took a turn when they tried to arrest him for drinking and driving. A struggle then ensued and Brooks grabbed one of the officer’s tasers and shot him as he fled.
The officer then drew his gun and shot Brooks twice, killing him.
Community members take a moment of silence as they gather at the location of the former Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed on January 18, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot Brooks, was fired the day after the incident. He was later reinstated in May 2021 after the Atlanta Civil Service Board determined that the city did not follow its policies on disciplinary actions.
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Five days after the incident, former Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced arrest warrants for Rolfe and the other officer involved, Devin Brosnan, but the special counsel said in August that he would dismiss those charges after his investigation.
Both officers were still employed by the Atlanta Police Department and on administrative duties when the special counsel’s decision was made in August.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
