Reacting to the indictments of 2 men in the death of 8 year old Secoriea Turner her family say there are many others that should also be held accountable.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced Friday that 20 year old Julian Conley and 23 year old Jerrion McKinney had been indicted by a grand jury in the July 4, 2020, death of the child.
Willis said gangs had taken over an area of the city where Rayshard Brooks had been shot and killed by Atlanta police outside a fast food restaurant a few days prior. The DA added that shots were fired into the suv in which the child was riding when the vehicle did not stop at what authorities called an "illegal" road block.
Speaking with reporters following Willis' announcement Friday, family attorney Mawuli Davis said "There are many more who will never be criminally indicted but should be indicted for allowing a situation like this to happen in the city of Atlanta."
Mom Charmaine Turner said, "We are thankful that at least two of the men have been captured. We pray and hope that more arrests are made. This assures that we are a step closer to justice for Secoriea and my family." Adding that his daughter would be starting 5th grade this year, Secoriey Williamson said "Everyone should be held responsible because no street in Atlanta should be taken over by no one. This is Atlanta."
Fellow legal team member Harold Spence said while they are happy with the indictments, "although not criminally responsible, there are people who are civily responsible." Spence went on to say "some are elected officials of the city of Atlanta, some are law enforcement officials of the city of Atlanta who are every bit as culpable for Secoriea Turner's death."
Attorney Davis later named Atlanta City Council, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and then-interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant among those cited in a civil lawsuit. They claim that police had been pulled away from the area and that allowed armed gangs to assert control.