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Rayshard Brooks shooting: Atlanta mayor orders police reforms in wake of killing

ATLANTA — Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot by Atlanta police Friday night in a Wendy’s parking lot after a struggle with authorities during a sobriety check.

The shooting led to the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields and sparked a demonstration where hundreds of protesters marched through the city, setting fire to the restaurant where Brooks, 27, was killed and blocking traffic on part of the highway.

Live updates for Monday, June 15, continue below:

At least 19 Atlanta police officers have resigned in past 10 days, organization says

Update 10:29 p.m. EDT June 15: The Atlanta Police Foundation told WSB-TV on Monday that at least 19 police officers have resigned during the past 10 days.

The nonprofit foundation did not elaborate on the individual reasons for the resignations but did indicate to TV station that low morale throughout the department is a contributing factor.

Atlanta mayor details police reforms effective immediately

Update 4:55 p.m. EDT June 15: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said during a Monday news conference she has signed several administrative orders effective immediately on police use of force.

Bottoms said, per the orders, the city’s chief operating officer will coordinate with interim Police Chief Rodney Bryant to implement reforms to the department’s standard operating procedures and work rules regarding use of force.

The orders include, but are not limited to the following:

• Officers are ordered to use only an amount of reasonable force required to successfully protect themselves and others when arresting an individual or bringing an incident under control. This order applies to any dealings with members of the community, suspects and detainees.

• All incidents of deadly force used by a police officer must be reported to the Citizens Review Board.

• The department is adopting and will implement a duty to intervene, meaning any officer who witnesses another using force beyond what is reasonable, given the circumstances, is duty-bound to intervene and prevent the excessive use of force. The witnessing officer must also report the misconduct immediately.

“Our police officers are to be guardians, and not warriors within our communities,” Bottoms said.

Atlanta mayor orders police reforms in wake of Rayshard Brooks killing

Update 4:22 p.m. EDT June 15: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said Monday afternoon she will sign executive orders on police reform following the death of Rayshard Brooks.

“In an effort for us to develop a succinct appeal for human rights, I am signing an administrative order that will convene a body to begin to succinctly articulate our grievances and what we see as our solutions," Bottoms said at a news conference, adding that she is hopeful it “will be a framework in Atlanta and possibly the nation.”

Atlanta mayor holding news conference

Update 3:55 p.m. EDT June 15: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is holding a news conference Monday following the death of Rayshard Brooks during an encounter with Atlanta police.

WATCH LIVE: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms holds news briefing on public safety

WATCH LIVE: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms holds news briefing on public safety

Posted by PBS NewsHour on Monday, June 15, 2020

Tyler Perry to pay for funeral of Rayshard Brooks

Update 2 p.m. EDT June 15: Media mogul Tyler Perry announced plans Monday to pay for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks, WSB-TV reported.

An attorney for the Brooks family made the announcement during a news conference in Atlanta, according to WSB-TV.

Brooks died Friday after police were called to respond to a report that he had fallen asleep in his car while it was parked at a Wendy’s parking lot. Police shot and killed him, prompting police Chief Erika Shields to resign from her position.

Family remembers Rayshard Brooks as ‘always happy,' ‘loving husband’

Update 12:05 p.m. EDT June 15: Family members remembered Rayshard Brooks as a cheerful man dedicated to his family while urging an end to police brutality during an emotional news conference Monday.

His niece remembered him as a “loving husband, a caring brother and, most importantly to me, an uncle that I could depend on.”

“He was always happy,” Brooks’ cousin, Jymaco Brooks, said at a news conference. “He was always smiling.”

Family members called for change to the mentality of police departments, decrying Rayshard Brooks’ death as completely unnecessary. The 27-year-old died in a confrontation with Atlanta police after he fell asleep in his car in a Wendy’s parking lot.

“Look at your children,” Jymaco Brooks said Monday. “When you see them laugh, that innocence, that joy, that pureness of soul ... you have a glimpse at what we lost. You have a glimpse of what it feels like.”

Rayshard Brooks’ cousin: ‘The trust that we have for the police force is broken’

Update 11:50 a.m. EDT June 15: The family of Rayshard Brooks, the man killed by Atlanta police after falling asleep in a Wendy's parking lot Friday, denounced his killing and highlighted the need for police reform in the wake of his death.

“If we stand together and unite as one, there will be no more cases similar to Rayshard’s,” Brooks’ cousin, Tiara Brooks, said during a news conference Monday. “How many more protests will it take to ensure that the next victim isn’t your cousin, your brother, your uncle, your nephew, your friend or your companion?”

L. Chris Stewart, the attorney representing Brooks’ family, said Monday that there needs to be a “mental change in policing.”

“The trust that we have for the police force is broken and the only way to heal some of these wounds is through a conviction and a drastic change of the police department,” Tiara Brooks said.

Family of Rayshard Brooks expected to speak

Update 11:15 a.m. EDT June 15: The widow of Rayshard Brooks, the 27-year-old man shot and killed Friday night by Atlanta police, is expected to speak alongside other members of Brooks' family at a news conference Monday.

Tomika Miller, the widow of Rayshard Brooks who was fatally shot by police in Atlanta on Friday, addresses the media

Posted by USA TODAY Video on Monday, June 15, 2020

Demonstrators prepare to march in Atlanta

Update 9:05 a.m. EDT June 15: Hundreds of people gathered Monday in Atlanta for a march to address police brutality, the criminal justice system and voting rights following the deadly police shooting of Rayshard Brooks, WSB-TV reported.

‘Anonymous’ hacking group temporarily takes down Atlanta police website

Update 7:34 a.m. EDT June 15: notorious hacking group says it was responsible for taking down the Atlanta Police Department's website Sunday morning.

According to WSB-TV, the group, "Anonymous," says it took down the website in retaliation for the killing of Rayshard Brooks.

In a tweet, the group said, "Anonymous has taken action against Atlanta PD for the execution of #RayshardBrooks, we call for the arrest of the two murderers."

The site was back online about two hours later.

Read more here.

Martin Luther King III weighs in on Rayshard Brooks’ death

Update 6:21 a.m. EDT June 15: The son of one of our nation's most influential civil rights leaders is weighing in on Rayshard Brooks' death, according to Atlanta's WSB-TV.

"It is very difficult to define what justice is. Tragically, a building was burned down but that building can be re-erected. How do you re-erect a human life?" said Martin Luther King III.

The son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said we have to find ways to address these problems and before something like this happens again.

Brooks was shot and killed by Atlanta police officers who responded to a Wendy's drive-thru, where the father of four was sleeping in his car.

Demonstrators to march in Atlanta for criminal justice reform, ending police brutality

Update 4:56 a.m. EDT June 15: Crowds of people, including the Atlanta Hawks' head coach, are expected to join the NAACP on Monday to march in downtown Atlanta to address police brutality, the criminal justice system and voting rights.

According to WSB-TV, the March for Justice peaceful protest is expected to begin at 9 a.m. Monday at The Richard B. Russell Federal Building and end at the state Capitol.

The NAACP and Just Georgia Coalition held a virtual news conference over the weekend.

Atlanta police Chief Erika Shields resigned Saturday following the deadly police shooting of Rayshard Brooks, but the NAACP is demanding that Shields be completely removed from the police department and no longer be an employee.

Both groups said now is the opportunity to listen to protesters in the streets who are demanding change.

"We are asking and demanding urgent action so that we can move forward as a city, community and as a state to ensure that no other family has to go through what Mr. Brooks' family has to go through," said the Rev. James "Major" Woodall, state president of the Georgia NAACP.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms issued an administrative order for an advisory council made up of community members to examine the city’s use of force policies and procedures. They will make recommendations for operational or legislative changes to the city’s existing use of force policies.

Civil rights and criminal defense attorney Tiffany Roberts believes there has to be a transformational cultural shift within the Atlanta Police Department.

“We have to move past this belief that training is the issue that causes the systemic harm in our communities. We have some information that the officer involved with Mr. Brooks had been trained on use of force and had been trained on de-escalation, so there is no training regime that can undo a toxic culture,” Roberts said.

Neighbors pay their respects, clean up after protests

Update 2:09 a.m. EDT June 15: Neighbors volunteered their time Sunday morning to pay their respects to Rayshard Brooks and clean up following protests this weekend, WSB-TV is reporting.

Brooks was shot and killed Friday night during a confrontation with two Atlanta police officers at a Wendy's restaurant.

Protests were held all day Saturday, although the night took a violent turn when some people set the restaurant on fire.

Atlanta police and public works trucks blocked University Avenue on Sunday morning as cleanup began.

WSB-TV′s Tony Thomas watched as members of the Atlanta City Council and neighbors stopped by.

“You can still smell the smoke. I see hurt, I see anger, I see frustration,” said Will Norwood. “I see people who are trying to find a way to express that things have to change.”

Marina Grant and several other volunteers picked up the trash around the restaurant and in the street.

Volunteers have been helping all morning to clean and pick up trash off University Avenue where protests happened this...

Posted by WSB-TV on Sunday, June 14, 2020

“This is my neighborhood,” Duane Kelly said.

Kelly stood nearby as a WSB-TV drone flew over the damage for a better look. Not much is left of the building following the fires that burned for hours.

“People are tired. They’re tired. Not always agreeing with the way they express that anger, but at least now people are starting to finally listen,” Kelly said.

Throughout Sunday, more and more people arrived to look at the site where so much has happened in the past two days.

“Unfortunately, there is a lot of things that need to change, and hopefully this is spark[ing] something,” Norwood said.

Memorials have been set up in the parking lot with flowers in support of the Brooks family.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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