Rayshard Brooks Death: Black Georgia Sheriff Says Lethal Force By Cops Was 'Completely Justified'

An African American sheriff from Atlanta, Georgia believes that the use of force against Rayshard Brooks, a black man who was shot and killed by members of the Atlanta Police Department Friday (June 12), was “completely justified.”

Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams said that the officers who apprehended Brooks outside of a Wendy’s restaurant, and then shot him as he was allegedly trying to flee, did not behave in a “malicious or sadistic” manner.

Brooks died on the scene from multiple gunshots in the back, as fired by Officer Garrett Rolfe. Brooks was undergoing a sobriety test by another officer, Officer Devin Brosnan, when he reportedly tried to take his taser to fire at Rolfe.

"[Rolfe] did what he needed to do," Williams said in an interview with CNN. " And this was a completely justified shooting.”

Williams said that he requires officers under him who carry tasers to be tased so they will “understand the incapacitation” and be responsible for their weapons.

“If that officer had been hit, he still has a firearm on his side and the likelihood of him being stomped in the head or having his firearm taken and used against him was a probability,” Williams said, adding that Brooks’ shooting was “completely justified, 100%.”

“An officer generally goes to work every day, he’s not concerned about whether a perpetrator is black or white. He’s there to do a job,” Williams said.

Williams also said that Brooks’ case differs from George Floyd’s death, which sparked nationwide protests against police brutality. The chief said that Floyd’s killing was “very clear, outrageous violations of policy and law.”

Fox News reported that shortly after the video of Brooks’ apprehension, and subsequent death, came out, Atlanta police chief Erika Shields quit her post while they fired Rolfe from his job. They placed Brosnan on administrative duty as the investigation continues.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, however, said that the exact moment that prompted Rolfe to pull the trigger on Brooks would be a critical point to the case. Howard said that if Rolf shot Brooks for reasons other than he was a potential and deadly threat to others, then the act would not be justified.

The DA’s office will announce the charges against Rolfe and Brosnan by Wednesday (June 17). Meanwhile, new police brutality protests are emerging in some states following Brooks’ death.