Man killed by state trooper at Cop City in Atlanta is identified

The man shot and killed by a Georgia State Trooper Wednesday is being identified as 26 year old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran.

The shooting happened at the site of a planned law enforcement training center nicknamed by opponents as "Cop City". It's located in DeKalb County.

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Following the deadly shooting, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said a multi-agency operation was underway to clear the area Wednesday morning when a man inside a tent, now identified as Paez Teran, opened fire striking a state trooper and officers returned fire killing him. The unidentified state trooper remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Protesters who were also camped out at the site were quick to contradict authorities about what lead up to the deadly shooting. The group

Stop Cop City
1/21 @ 5pm
Underground ATL pic.twitter.com/HFmzPvOeWw

— Defend the Atlanta Forest (@defendATLforest) January 19, 2023 ">Defend the Atlanta Forest said in a statement "Police killed a forest defender today, someone who loved the forest, someone who fought to protect the earth and its inhabitants. This is why we organize to stop Cop City. And we will."

Those against the proposed Public Safety Training Center named it "Cop City". They contend that it would not be good for the environment or the community. It would be on a sprawling 85-acre tract of forest land comprised of a gun range, a mock city for training purposes and an amphitheater.

The GBI said in a press release Thursday that seven people were taken into custody at the site. They face various charges including domestic terrorism and criminal trespass. The statement also indicates that mortar style fireworks, multiple edged weapons, pellet rifles, gas masks, and a blow torch were confiscated during the clearing of the area.