Ex-Atlanta Officer Who Shot And Killed Rayshard Brooks Now Faces Possible Death Penalty After Being Charged With Felony Murder

Things took a turn in the case involving the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks by a Atlanta police officer, with that officer being charged with felony murder that could carry the death penalty.

Garrett Rolfe, the Atlanta police officer fired after the killing of Rayshard Brooks last week, now faces 11 charges including felony murder, which could potentially lead to the death penalty, a Georgia district attorney announced Wednesday.

A second officer, Devin Brosnan, is facing three charges, including aggravated assault, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. said at a news conference.

via foxnews.com

Rayshard Brooks was apparently intoxicated and sitting inside his vehicle while in a Wendy’s drive-thru. When police were called, they encountered Brooks and can be seen having a calm interaction with him on video that was released shortly after the incident, which occurred on June 12th.

Then, Brooks resists the officers’ attempts to handcuff him, and they end up in a struggle. At some point, Brooks gains access to one of their tasers and begins to run. Video appears to show Brooks turn towards the pursuing officers and point the taser at them, at which point Rolfe fires his gun. Rolfe is first seen using his taser, to no effect on Brooks.

Brooks failed a field sobriety test before the shooting occurred.

Lawyers for Rolfe stated that their client used permissible force when handling the situation with Brooks.

“Officer Rolfe heard a sound like a gunshot and saw a flash in front of him,” they said. “Fearing for his safety, and the safety of the civilians around him, Officer Rolfe dropped his Taser and fired his service weapon.”