Another black man killed by cop

TRUMP: POLICE HAVE ‘NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY’

Police officer aggravated case by kicking him as he lay on the ground, bleeding.

An Atlanta police officer has been charged with murder for shooting a 27-year-old man in the back, justice officials announced on Wednesday, in the latest case to spark anger over police killings of AfricanAmericans.

Rayshard Brooks’ shooting came less than three weeks after a Minneapolis police officer’s killing of handcuffed African-American George Floyd on 25 May fuelled a national uproar over racism and police brutality.

Atlanta District Attorney Paul Howard said police officer Garrett Rolfe had no justification for shooting Brooks as he fled and aggravated the case by kicking his body as he lay on the ground bleeding.

He also said that Rolfe and fellow officer Devin Brosnan violated multiple police department regulations after they detained Brooks on 12 June.

“We concluded that, at the time that Mr Brooks was shot, he did not pose an immediate threat of death or serious physical injury to the officers,” Howard said.

President Donald Trump called the killing of Brooks “a terrible situation” in a Fox News interview on Wednesday. “I hope he [Rolfe] gets a fair shake because police have not been treated fairly in our country,” he said.

“But, again, you can’t resist a police officer like that. And they ended up in a very terrible disagreement and look at the way it ended. Very bad. Very bad.”

Brooks’ death ignited a fresh round of angry protests, and forced the resignation of Atlanta’s police chief.

Howard said a warrant was issued for Rolfe’s arrest on 11 counts, including felony murder – a homicide committed in the course of another felony crime – aggravated assault and multiple counts of violating police procedures. The murder count could bring a sentence of death or life in prison.

Brosnan and Rolfe found Brooks sleeping in his car in the drive-up line at a local fast-food restaurant last Friday. Over a calm 20 minute interaction, they gave him an alcohol test and, after it proved positive, sought to arrest him.

After a brief struggle Brooks ran off with an officer’s Taser and, as he swung his arm back to point it at them, Rolfe shot Brooks twice in the back. – AFP

At the time Mr Brooks was shot, he posed no threat