Atlanta police chief resigns after cop shoots man dead at Wendy’s drive-thru

Atlanta’s police chief resigned Saturday amid controversy about a black man who was fatally shot by cops in a struggle after a drunken driving check at a fast-food drive-thru.

The man shot by police — identified as Rayshard Brooks, 27 — had grabbed a cop’s Taser and was fleeing late Friday when officers fired at him, authorities said. The shooting is the latest flashpoint in Atlanta’s protests against racism.

Atlanta’s mayor announced the resignation of police chief Erika Shields at a news conference.

Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields, left, speaks as Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, right, listens during a press conference in Atlanta, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. (David Goldman/)

“I do not believe that this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer,” said Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

“Chief Shields has offered to immediately step aside as police chief so that the city may move forward with urgency in rebuilding the trust so desperately needed throughout our communities,” the mayor said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a preliminary report that the officers, who haven’t yet been named, were dispatched to around 10:30 p.m. Friday to a Wendy’s restaurant, where people reported that a man — later identified as Brooks — was sleeping in his car in the drive-thru and forcing other customers to drive around him.

After Brooks failed a field sobriety test, the officers attempted to place him in custody. Brooks resisted arrest, and a struggle took place.

“[V]ideos indicate that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene," the GBI said.

"Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks.”

One of the officers was taken to a hospital but he has since been discharged. The cops have been put on administrative leave.

The shooting became the latest flashpoint in the Atlanta’s protests against racism. A crowd of 150 demonstrators protested at the shooting scene on Saturday afternoon.

“The people are upset,” said Gerald Griggs, a lawyer and vice president of Atlanta’s NAACP chapter. “They want to know why their dear brother Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed when he was merely asleep on the passenger side and not doing anything.”

Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who ran a hard-fought campaign for governor in 2018, tweeted that “Running away should not be punishable by death. Public safety must mean the public is safe. All of us.”

After the GBI completes its investigation, the case will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review.

Six Atlanta police officers were charged earlier this month after the violent arrest of two college students during protests in the city.

With News Wire Services