The two Atlanta police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks have filed lawsuits against the city and former city officials, claiming their constitutional rights were violated and for false arrest.
Garrett Rolfe was initially fired by the Atlanta Police Department over the 2020 shooting. He was later reinstated to the force with back pay. He is now facing murder charges and is on administrative leave pending the trial’s outcome.
Devin Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and violation of oath of office.
The suits were announced just two days before the second anniversary of Brooks’ death and are seeking unspecified damages.
“It will be a hard battle,” Attorney Lance J. LoRusso said in a statement, according to Fox5 Atlanta. “Please send prayers and positive thoughts for justice to prevail.”
Brooks was fatally shot in a Wendy’s parking lot in June 2020. Video showed Brooks resisting arrest after the officers attempted to arrest him after administering a sobriety test. Officer attempted to deploy their Taser multiple times. Brooks was able to allegedly take the Taser away from one of the officers.
Following Brooks’ death, people turned out to protest police brutality. The Wendy’s where Brooks was killed was eventually set on fire by protestors. The fatal shooting occurred shortly after George Floyd lost his life in police custody, and tension was running high across the United States.
