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Medical Examiner Rules Atlanta Man's Death a Homicide

VOA News

   A Fulton County, Georgia, medical examiner has ruledRayshardBrooks'
   death outside an Atlanta fast food restaurant Friday night a homicide.

   Brooks was cooperating with police officers during a sobriety test, but
   then struggled with the officers as they tried to arrest him and ran.
   The medical examiner's autopsy found that Brooks was shot in the back
   twice and died from organ damage and blood loss.

   Officer Garrett Rolfe has been fired, and the Atlanta police chief,
   Erika Shields, has resigned. A second officer, DevinBrosnan, has been
   placed on administrative leave.

   Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard told CNN his office will
   decide later this week what kind of charges, if any, Rolfe would face.

   "(Brooks) did not seem to present any kind of threat to anyone, and so
   the fact that it would escalate to his death just seems unreasonable,"
   Howard said. "If that shot was fired for some reason other than to save
   that officer's life or prevent injury to him or others, then that
   shooting is not justified under the law," he added.

   Shields resigned Saturday even as the investigation into the shooting
   had barely begun.

   "I have served alongside some of the finest men and women in the
   Atlanta Police Department. Out of a deep and abiding love for this city
   and this department, I offered to step aside as police chief. '¦ It is
   time for the city to move forward and build trust between law
   enforcement and the communities they serve."

   Police dash and body cam video shows the 27-year-old Brooks asleep in
   his car and blocking the drive-thru lane of a Wendy's fast-food
   restaurant.

   It took a few moments for Officer Rolfe to waken Brooks. The video
   shows the two having a cordial conversation, but Brooks didn't seem to
   know what city he was in or what restaurant. At one point, Brooks told
   the officer "I know you're just doing your job."

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