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submitted 9 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

A special prosecutor will not charge the six Georgia State Patrol troopers who shot and killed an environmental protestor at the proposed site for the controversial Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

Manuel Esteban Paez Terán, who went by "Tortuguita" and used they/them pronouns, was shot and killed by six Georgia State Troopers on Jan. 18 as officers raided campgrounds occupied by environmental demonstrators who had allegedly been camping out for months to protest the development of the training center, dubbed "Cop City" by critics.

After months of investigating, the Stone Mountain Circuit District Attorney’s Office says the troopers' use of lethal force was "objectively reasonable under the circumstances of the case."

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[-] PugJesus@kbin.social 37 points 9 months ago

After months of investigating, the Stone Mountain Circuit District Attorney’s Office says the troopers’ use of lethal force was “objectively reasonable under the circumstances of the case.”

In their report, officials say the troopers spoke with Tortuguita, who refused to leave and zipped up the tent in which they were living.

After an officer fired pepper balls at the tents, officials say that the environmental activist fired multiple shots - hitting Georgia State Patrol Trooper Jerry Parrish below his armor plate and above his belt on his right side and lodging the bullet in his spine. The troopers then returned fire, hitting and killing Tortuguita.

For once, I think the cops may be telling the truth. Getting a bullet in one's spine might be a bit much for a cover story.

[-] SheeEttin@lemmy.world 82 points 9 months ago

Assuming that it wasn't friendly fire they blamed on Tortuguita, anyway.

[-] winterayars@sh.itjust.works 42 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

It was definitely friendly fire. Cops are fucking awful at containing collateral damage.

Go look at how often they shoot random bystanders, animals, whenever. Now: Who's going to be in that line of fire more than anyone else? That's right! Other cops.

(Edit)

Oh yeah from lower in the thread, it was friendly fire: https://www.npr.org/2023/03/11/1162843992/cop-city-atlanta-activist-autopsy

[-] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 19 points 9 months ago

"How about if we surround the tent and all start firing?"

"Jerry, that's brilliant!"

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Narrator:

It was.

[-] snooggums@kbin.social -2 points 9 months ago

The most likely scenario is the police threatened him with violence, and they started shooting pepper balls at the tent he thought they were shooting bullets and he returned fire.

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this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2023
359 points (98.6% liked)

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