Lawyers for the family of Rayshard Brooks say they plan to take civil action following a decision that clears the officers initially accused of being culpable in the death of the father of four.
Tuesday a special prosecutor decided that then-Atlanta Police Officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan did not act with criminal intent when they encountered the 27 year old Brooks outside a Wendy's restaurant. It happened on June 12, 2020. Brooks had fallen asleep while in the drive-thru. Police were called. Brooks failed a sobriety test. When the officers attempted to arrest him, Brooks ran and grabbed an officer's taser, he was shot as he ran.
Brooks' death heightened protests still simmering from the death of George Floyd and led to the south Atlanta Wendy's being burned down.
Brooks family lawyers Chris Stewart and Justin Miller said during a Tuesday news conference that the officers did not need to use deadly force to stop Brooks. Both agreed that Brooks should not have gotten into a physical altercation with the officers. They say that they will pursue the case in civil court.
Special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis said Tuesday that he would not be pursuing charges against the officers. Lawyers for Rolfe and Brosnan are quoted calling Skandalakis' decision "the right thing" and "a relief".