Rayshard Brooks: Family of black man killed by police urge protesters to remain peaceful
Rayshard Brooks was killed following a confrontation with officers outside a fast food restaurant in Atlanta.
Tuesday 16 June 2020 07:16, UK
The widow of a black man shot dead by a white police officer in Atlanta has urged protesters to remain peaceful, saying: "We want to keep his name positive and great."
In a deeply emotional news conference, Tomika Miller was joined by Rayshard Brooks's three young children, his stepson, as well as cousins and other family and friends.
"There is no justice that can ever make me feel happy about what's been done. I can never get my husband back. I can never get my best friend," she said.
"I just ask that if you could just keep it as a peaceful protest that would be wonderful, because we want to keep his name positive and great."
One by one, family members came to the podium to speak.
Rayshard Brooks "had the brightest smile and the biggest heart," one said, sobbing.
His niece, Chassidy Evans, urged Americans "to stand with us" as they sought justice for Mr Brooks, adding that "he did not die in vain... his life mattered".
"The police took something from our family that we will never get back," she said, adding: "Rayshard Brooks."
"No one walking this green earth expects to be shot and killed like trash in the street for falling asleep in the drive-thru," she continued.
"When does this stop? We are not only pleading for justice, we are pleading for change."
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The 27-year-old was killed following a confrontation with officers outside a fast-food restaurant in the city on Friday night.
He was being questioned for an alleged drink-driving offence.
His widow added: "I can never tell my daughter: 'Oh, he's coming to take you skating or swimming lessons.' So, it's just going to be a long time before I heal. It's going to be a long time before this family heals."
Most of the family members sobbed as the statements were made, with his cousin Tiara Brooks adding that trust in police was "broken" and could only be healed through a "conviction and a drastic change" within the department.
She added: "How many more protests will it take to ensure that the next victim isn't your cousin, your brother, your uncle, your nephew, your friend or your companion?
"So then we can finally end the suffering of police excessive force."
The Fulton County medical examiner's office has declared Mr Brooks's killing a homicide - which, on its own, doesn't constitute criminal or unlawful death, and was caused by two gunshot wounds to the back.
Mr Brooks' death reignited protests in Atlanta after weeks of worldwide demonstrations against racism and police brutality that were sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer on 25 May.
The lawyer representing Mr Brooks's family has questioned why he was not allowed to walk home after being spoken to by police, following a report that someone had fallen asleep in a car at a Wendy's drive-through lane.
The lawyer has also said the decision to fire a lethal weapon in a busy drive-through was, on its own, reckless. He showed photos of a bullet hole in a car parked near where Mr Brooks was killed.
Countering suggestions that the shooting was justified because Mr Brooks had resisted arrest, fired a taser at the officers and ran away, lawyer Chris Stewart told Sky News it was entirely understandable that Mr Brooks should try to run as he was handcuffed.
"Psychologically, people just saw George Floyd killed while handcuffed. So him resisting and not wanting to be cuffed, I mean, I can understand that," the lawyer said.
On the night of the incident, two officers talked to Mr Brooks for 30 minutes. He complied while they carried out a field sobriety test followed by a breathalyser test, which he failed.
When one officer went to arrest him, Mr Brooks struggled with the pair.
Footage from a nearby security camera shows that he then broke free from the scuffle and ran across the drive-through car park, with a police taser he had taken from one of the officers in his hand.
Mr Brooks turned as he ran - and appeared to aim the taser at the pursuing officers before one of them fired their gun and Mr Brooks fell to the ground.
The 27-year-old later died in hospital.
The officer suspected of killing Mr Brooks has since been sacked, and the other officer, also white, was put on administrative leave.
The District Attorney has said he expects that any charges will be brought by Wednesday.
Back at the news conference, there was an emotionally abrupt ending as members of Mr Brooks's family broke down and left the room one by one.
The lawyer was left alone at the podium.
"Sadly I'm probably going to be back here in a few months with another case," Mr Stewart said, before following the family out.
:: On Tuesday night at 8pm, Sky News will broadcast global debate show Race and Revolution: Is Change Going to Come?
It will look at the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter protests, and examine institutional racism and how we fix it.