Family of 8-year-old fatally shot near where Rayshard Brooks was killed files lawsuit
The family of an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed last summer near a Georgia fast food restaurant — not far from where a white police officer gunned down Rayshard Brooks weeks earlier ― has filed a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta, its mayor, and other local leaders.
Secoriea Turner was fatally struck by gunfire on July 4, 2020, while riding in an SUV with her mother and a friend near the Wendy’s restaurant where Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, was killed by an Atlanta officer on June 12. The fast food joint was set on fire the following day and people protesting police brutality camped out in the parking lot in the weeks after.
The SUV was trying to make its way around a barricade set up by demonstrators when armed people began walking toward the vehicle and signaling it couldn’t pass. The driver tried to continue anyway, prompting one or more people to shoot into the vehicle.
According to a lawsuit, filed by Charmaine Turner and Secoriey Williamson in Fulton County State Court, city officials were negligent when they failed to remove the armed vigilantes who gathered at the site alongside peaceful protesters, which created a tenuous environment that would ultimately lead to Secoriea’s death.
“Secoriea should be here. None of what we’re doing will ever bring our baby back. Her life is priceless,” Turner said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit. “We deserve justice. Someone needs to be held accountable.”
The suit specifically names Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant, City Council member Joyce Sheperd, Wendy’s International and the company that owns the property where the Wendy’s was located.
“They failed to take any action to address the reports of crime, the reports of violence and the reports of danger in that area until after it was too late,” said Sam Starks, a senior attorney with The Cochran Firm, told CBS Atlanta. “This is a lawsuit that is based on a failure of city government at the highest levels.”
Both a city and police spokesman declined to comment.
“The murder of Secoriea Turner, as a result of senseless gun violence, is a tragedy that no family should have to endure. Due to the anticipated litigation, the City will offer no further comment, at this time,” a city spokesperson said.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and asks for damages in an amount to be determined by a jury.
Julian Conley, 20, is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in Secoriea’s death and remained behind bars on Tuesday. He turned himself in July 15, a day after police obtained warrants for his arrest. His attorney said at the time that Conley was armed and protesting peacefully and witnessed the shooting but did not open fire.
Brooks, a father of four, was fatally shot on June 12 after Atlanta officers were called to a Wendy’s parking lot where he, according to authorities, had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-through lane. After nearly an hour questioning and a sobriety test, police moved to arrest Brooks and the situation quickly spun out of control.
Brooks at one point snatched a Taser from one of the responding officers and fled, firing it as he ran. The officer, in turn, discharged his own Taser before opening fire with his gun.
The Wendy’s where both incidents unfolded has since been demolished.
With News Wire Services
