Violent rioters burned down a Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta on Saturday night and temporarily shut down an interstate after an officer involved shooting led to the death of Rayshard Brooks.
“Preliminary information indicates that at approximately 10:33 pm, [the Atlanta Police Department] APD was dispatched to the Wendy’s located at 125 University Ave, Atlanta, GA,” the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said in a statement. “Officers were responding to a complaint of a male in a vehicle parked in the drive thru asleep, causing other customers to drive around the vehicle.”
The GBI continued by noting that they had obtained additional footage of the incident and reviewed footage that was posted to social media, saying, “These new videos indicate that during a physical struggle with officers, Brooks obtained one of the officer’s Tasers and began to flee from the scene. Officers pursued Brooks on foot and during the chase, Brooks turned and pointed the Taser at the officer. The officer fired his weapon, striking Brooks.”
Violent rioters took to the streets late on Saturday, blocking traffic on an interstate, burning down the Wendy’s restaurant where the incident happened, and set fire to cars in the area.
WATCH:
Fire at Wendy's on University Ave in southwest Atlanta raging. A night to remember in Atlanta: Rayshard Brooks shot by an officer, the chief of Atlanta police resigned, and protesters stormed the interstate. Now, fire. #AtlantaShooting #AtlantaProtest pic.twitter.com/Fgjq7jhDiZ
— Ric Garni (@RICGARNI) June 14, 2020
Social media posts by local reporters showed an interstate that was shutdown by the rioters but was later reopened after it was reportedly cleared by law enforcement.
🚨RED ALERT 9:35p Atlanta: It’s the moment protesters entered the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85) at University Ave (Exit 244). It’s shut down in both directions. Use I-285 as an alternate. #atltraffic @wsbradio @wsbtv pic.twitter.com/c0p7ico5q9
— Mark McKay 🚁 ☀️ (@mckayWSB) June 14, 2020
The scene on I-75/I-85 Southbond right now. @ajc pic.twitter.com/ycR7hiH3YL
— Sarah Kallis (@SarahKallis) June 14, 2020
Atlanta-based meteorologist Ryan Maue highlighted on Twitter the developments as they unfolded in real time.
“Atlanta SWAT has showed up with their gear,” Maue tweeted along with a photo of the scene. “Helmets and shields. Police continue to arrest the remaining protesters. Looks like Interstate could be reopened shortly safely.”
https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1271987922582069248
In another couple of tweets, Maue wrote: “The luxury coach has arrived to pick up the detained protesters for their trip downtown. Police are entirely focused on reopening the Interstate. The area around Wendy’s has been left alone.”
“And 4 left lanes have been reopened I-75/85 heading Southbound,” Maue continued. “Police just dropped the checkered flag. Another luxury bus has arrived to collect arrested protesters chilling on the guardrail.”
https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1271990499562356737
About 90 minutes later, Maue added, “The fire is out at Wendy’s but the focus has shifted back to the Interstate as police and public are facing off at the on ramp.”
“For those wondering, this is not a busy area of Atlanta or near any tourist traps,” Maue said in a subsequent tweet. “It’s a few clicks south of Downtown. Gas stations and previously a Wendy’s, warehouses and some industrial. Sparse residential about a mile away.”
https://twitter.com/RyanMaue/status/1272016037077286914
CNN Law Enforcement Analyst James Gagliano called out some of the media’s coverage on the incident.
“Hopefully, @nypost — and other outlets — will correct this inaccurate headline and story,” Gagliano wrote on Twitter. “GBI video shows man in violent struggle w/officers, then wrests away cop’s Taser, flees on foot w/cops in hot pursuit, and then turns and appears to FIRE Taser at cop, who then shoots him.”
In a subsequent tweet, Gagliano also called out the Daily Mirror, writing: “Yet another deceptive headline that leaves out key component in the fatal police shooting in Atlanta.”
https://twitter.com/JamesAGagliano/status/1271952738633633792
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