Ga. governor calls National Guard after violent weekend
Five are killed, including 8-year-old girl
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency Monday and authorized the deployment of up to 1,000 National Guard troops in the wake of violence in Atlanta over the weekend that left more than 30 people wounded and five dead, including an 8-year-old girl.
“Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda,” Kemp said in a statement. “Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot and left for dead. This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.”
He said, “The measure will allow troops to protect state property and dispatch state law enforcement officers to patrol our streets.”
Among the locations where the Georgia Guard will provide protection are the state Capitol, the Department of Public Safety headquarters and the Governor’s Mansion.
“Enough with the tough talk,” Kemp said. “We must protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.”
The order went into effect immediately, citing as justification “unlawful assemblage, violence, overt threats of violence, disruption of the peace and tranquility of this state and danger existing to persons and property.” It is to expire July 13.
Saturday night, police said two people fired on a car, killing Secoriea Turner, 8. A reward of up to $10,000 was offered for information that leads to the arrest of those involved.
“You can’t blame this on a police officer,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Sunday in an emotional news conference. “You can’t say this is about criminal justice reform. This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an 8year-old baby in the car for what?”
“Enough is enough,” Bottoms said. “If you want people to take us seriously and you don’t want us to lose this movement, we can’t lose each other.”
The incident took place near the Wendy’s fast-food restaurant where Rayshard Brooks, 27, a Black man, was shot twice by a white police officer as he tried to flee after being stopped when he was found sleeping in his car June 12.
Brooks’ death sparked widespread protests in Atlanta and across the country and came weeks after the death of George Floyd, 46, a Black man who died Memorial Day in Minneapolis when a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Atlanta police responded late Sunday to investigate another shooting steps from where Secoriea was killed. One person was killed and two injured.
Sunday night, Kemp posted a message to Twitter denouncing the violence.
“This recent trend of lawlessness is outrageous & unacceptable,” Kemp wrote. “Georgians, including those in uniform, need to be protected from crime & violence. While we stand ready to assist local leaders in restoring peace & maintaining order, we won’t hesitate to take action without them.”
Police said Secoriea was in the car with her mother and another adult when the driver tried to pass illegally placed barricades to enter a parking lot. The car was “confronted by a group of armed individuals who had blocked the entrance,” interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant said Sunday.
Someone from that group struck the car multiple times, police said. Secoriea was taken to Atlanta Medical Center where she died.
Kemp said a 53-year-old man was fatally shot near the Wendy’s over the weekend.
“At that location, city officials have failed to quell ongoing violence with armed individuals threatening citizens, shooting at passersby, blocking streets, destroying local businesses and defying orders to disperse,” the executive order said.
Kemp cited vandalism at the Department of Public Safety headquarters early Sunday, saying several dozen people “armed with rocks, spray paint and fireworks” broke windows and tried to set fire to the building.
A spokesman for Bottoms didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about the governor’s authorization of Guard troops.
In Washington, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany lamented at Monday’s news briefing that she was not asked by reporters about weekend killings in Atlanta and other major U.S. cities. McEnany said she was asked “probably 12 questions about the Confederate flag” and was dismayed that she did not get one about the weekend shootings. She said comments by Secoriea’s father “broke my heart.”
“This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp