Current:Home > FinancePolice officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City' -ProsperityEdge
Police officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City'
View
Date:2025-04-16 16:25:39
None of the Georgia State Police troopers involved in the fatal shooting of Manuel "Tortuguita" Teran will face charges, according to Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George R. Christian.
Teran, who used they/them pronouns, was shot and killed by police 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 Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, dubbed "Cop City" by critics.
According to an autopsy of Teran sent to ABC News, they did not have gunpowder residue on their hands. Officials claimed Teran fired the first shot at a state trooper. Officers then responded with gunfire.
In Friday's announcement that no charges would be filed, Christian wrote that Teran responded to officers firing "less lethal" pepperball rounds by "shooting four (4) times his 9 mm pistol through the tent striking and seriously injuring a Georgia State Trooper. Six Troopers returned fire resulting in the death of Teran."
"The use of lethal (deadly) force by the Georgia State Patrol was objectively reasonable under the circumstances of this case," Christian wrote. "No criminal charges will be brought against the Georgia State Patrol Troopers involved in the shooting of Manuel Perez Teran."
MORE: DeKalb County releases autopsy in 'Cop City' protester Manuel Teran's death
Teran had at least 57 gunshot wounds in their body, according to the autopsy, including in the hands, torso, legs and head.
An independent autopsy from the family found that Teran’s hands were raised during the fatal shooting, however, the DeKalb County autopsy stated, "There are too many variables with respect to movement of the decedent and the shooters to draw definitive conclusions concerning Mr. Teran's body position."
The DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office had ruled the death a homicide.
The Georgia Attorney General's Office is conducting its own investigation into the shooting.
ABC News' Jason Volack and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.
veryGood! (342)
Related
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed in prison, AP source says
- Colorado funeral home owners where decomposing bodies found returned to state to face charges
- NFL players decide most annoying fan bases in anonymous poll
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- 56 Black Friday 2023 Deals You Can Still Shop Today: Coach, Walmart, Nordstrom Rack & More
- I investigated the crimes of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos — and loved 'Here Lies Love'
- AP Week in Pictures: North America
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Argentina and Brazil charged by FIFA after fan violence delays World Cup qualifying game at Maracana
Ranking
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- China will allow visa-free entry for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia
- At least 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas
- Suspect in young woman’s killing is extradited as Italians plan to rally over violence against women
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Ex-officer Derek Chauvin, convicted in George Floyd’s killing, stabbed in prison, AP source says
- Sister Wives’ Christine and Janelle Brown Share Their Hopes for a Relationship With Kody and Robyn
- What’s streaming now: ‘Oppenheimer,’ Adam Sandler as a lizard and celebs dancing to Taylor Swift
Recommendation
Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
Cleanup, air monitoring underway at Kentucky train derailment site
Pakistani shopping mall blaze kills at least 10 people and injures more than 20
Kentucky residents can return home on Thanksgiving after derailed train spills chemicals, forces evacuations
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Massachusetts is creating overnight shelter spots to help newly arriving migrant families
Tiffany Haddish charged with DUI after arrest in Beverly Hills
The eight best college football games to watch in Week 13 starts with Ohio State-Michigan