Brooks’ widow hears of his last minutes: ‘I felt everything that he felt’

Just like the rest of America, when Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard announced charges Wednesday against two Atlanta police officers in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, Brooks’ widow, Tomika Miller, was hearing them in real time.

How, after shooting Brooks twice in the back, Garrett Rolfe kicked Brooks, a black man, as he lay on the ground dying. How another officer, Devin Brosnan, stood on Brooks’ shoulders. How the officers waited two minutes and 12 seconds before giving Brooks any medical attention.

“I was very hurt,” Tomika Miller said, fighting back tears. “Because

I couldn’t imagine what I would have done if I had seen that for myself. But I felt everything that he felt, just by hearing what he went through. And it hurt. It hurt really bad.”

But she also was grateful for the charges, she said at a press conference with family attorneys.

Brooks was shot Friday by Rolfe during an altercation outside a

South Atlanta Wendy’s.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms quickly fired Rolfe, and accepted the resignation of Police Chief Erika Shields.

On Wednesday, Howard charged Rolfe with felony murder and 10 other offenses, including five counts of aggravated assault. Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and violations of oath of office.

Justin Miller, an attorney for the Brooks family, said even with the announcement of the charges, “this is not the finish line. This is the starting point.”

He later added, “America

is not America for all Americans.”

Miller said the family, attorneys and protesters have to stay focused on the officers being convicted of all the charges.

“With these new revelations, I implore you to look into your heart and have empathy for another human being. Because that is who Rayshard Brooks is and was. He may not look like you, but he is another human being,” Justin Miller said.

As her attorneys talked, Tomika Miller stood silently

and wept.

She and Brooks had three children, including a daughter who celebrated her 8th birthday on the same day she found out her father was dead.

“We have to find a way to make things right for the Brooks family and children,” Justin Miller said.

“How do you find justice for three little girls who will never see their father again? How do you get justice for a little girl, who on her birthday every single year for the rest of her life will remember that was the day she found out that her dad died?”

The family did not provide details about possible funeral arrangements.

Howard’s announcement came hours after U.S. Senate Republicans, led by South Carolina’s Tim Scott, formally unveiled a policing reform proposal while promising swift action on the legislation amid nationwide civil unrest and protests over police misconduct and racial injustice.

Referencing the proposal, Chris Stewart, another attorney for the Brooks family, said it doesn’t push far enough.

“We are going to be back here next year,” Stewart said.

“Was this justice today?” he asked about the charges. “Not yet.”

‘America is not America for all Americans.’ Justin Miller

Attorney for Rayshard Brooks’ family

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Rayshard Brooks’ widow Tomika Miller learns new details of her husband’s death during a news conference Wednesday in Atlanta.

Rayshard Brooks did not get emergency aid for more than 2 minutes, said Fulton Co. DA

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Attorneys L. Chris Stewart (left) and Justin Miller address the media Wednesday with Tomika Miller. Justin Miller asked that people remember that Rayshard Brooks was a fellow human being.