Unarmed Black Youth Shot Dead by Police in US... Struggle After Alcohol Test

Protesters against the shooting death of a Black youth [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Hee-eun Park] An unarmed Black young man died from police gunfire during an arrest of a Black youth who was asleep in a car in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

According to foreign media reports including the AP and CNN on the 13th (local time), the night before, 27-year-old Black youth Rayshard Brooks died from gunfire by police during a physical struggle while resisting arrest in front of a Wendy's store in Atlanta.

The police responded to a report that a vehicle was blocking the drive-thru lane of Wendy's, and Brooks was found asleep inside the car.

When the responding officers woke Brooks and conducted a breathalyzer test, his blood alcohol concentration exceeded the legal limit. When the police attempted to arrest him, a physical struggle ensued.

Brooks then tried to take the officer's stun gun (Taser) and fled, but was shot and killed by the officer. Witnesses recorded the incident and shared it on social media.

Subsequently, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) stated, "We have been requested by the Atlanta Police Department to investigate this death," and "We are reviewing videos taken by witnesses and initial investigation information."

Following the controversy over the incident, Erica Shields, the Atlanta Police Chief, resigned taking responsibility.

Gerald Griggs, a lawyer affiliated with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), questioned whether the police could have used non-lethal weapons during the arrest process, while the Atlanta Police claimed that Brooks resisted by grabbing the officer's Taser.

Meanwhile, Paul Howard, the Fulton County District Attorney overseeing Atlanta, announced in a statement that he plans to launch a strong and independent investigation separate from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.