Rayshard Brooks Possibly Knew Woman Suspected Of Burning Atlanta Wendy's Where He Died

Police have identified 29-year-old Natalie White as a suspect in the arson of the Wendy's in Atlanta where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police. Evidence suggested Brooks possibly knew the suspect.

It was on June 12 night the police responded to a call that a man was sleeping in his car on a Wendy's drive-thru lane. The incident took an unfortunate turn with Brooks ending up dead, leaving behind a wife, three daughters and a stepson.

The two police officers involved in his arrest and death were also slapped with 11 charges, including felony murder.

Brooks' killing escalated the protests already ongoing over earlier deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, and led to the June 13 burning of the Wendy's where Brooks died.

On Saturday, Atlanta Fire Rescue released images of White as a suspect for the arson. Incidentally, the name White was also mentioned by Brooks himself. According to Fox News, in the bodycam footage from when he was being questioned by the police outside the restaurant, Brooks can be heard mentioning White was his girlfriend.

However, it is, so far, unclear whether the suspect and the person Brooks mentioned are the same. Neither the Fire Department nor the Brooks family attorney also confirmed any possible connection between the two.

White is facing a first-degree arson charge, which is a felony in the state of Georgia, but investigators believe others may also be involved in the arson.

The state's arson control board has offered a $10,000 reward in addition to the $10,000 reward earlier posted by authorities for any information that can lead to an arrest related to the torching of the Wendy's.

After the two police officers involved in Brooks's death were charged, there were several reports of cops not showing up for work, something the department has denied.

"Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate," the Atlanta Police Department said in a tweet.

However, sources have told CNN because of the low staffing, even those usually assigned to major crimes have had to go to the streets in uniform and answer 911 calls.

"I'm not here to try to convince you that your anger and fear are not real. What I am here to tell is that that we — all of us who wear a badge — are in this together and we support you," Atlanta Interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant wrote in an email to CNN. "None of us like what we saw in Minneapolis. Those actions do not represent the best of us."