Atlanta Police Chief has resigned following the shooting of a black man by police officers in a fast-food drive-thru late Friday night.
Atlanta police shot and killed a 27-year-old Black man identified as Rayshard Brooks late Friday at a Wendy’s drive-thru after a fight ensued between him and the officers.
In the video which has gone viral, Rayshard was seen resisting arrest and eventually gained freedom from the clutches of the two police officers, however, his feet were no match against the officers gun as the police officer fired three shots into Rayshard.
“During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued,” Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. “The officer deployed a Taser. Witnesses report that during the struggle the male subject grabbed and was in possession of the Taser. It has also been reported that the male subject was shot by an officer in the struggle over the Taser.”
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He was transported to an area hospital for surgery, where he died, GBI said, adding that one of the officers was also wounded in the altercation and has since been discharged from the hospital.
At a press conference Saturday evening, an attorney for Rayshards’ family, L. Chris Stewart, denied the GBI’s claim that the officers had conducted a field sobriety test before attempting to arrest Brooks. Stewart also said he had not been blocking the drive-thru line.
Less than 24 hours after Rayshards’ death, Atlanta’s police chief, Erika Shields, resigned, according to Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.