Demonstrators gathered in Downtown to take part in a 24-hour vigil in hopes that a grand jury will indict a former Atlanta police officer Wednesday on a charge of murder, according to a report from our broadcast partner CBS46.
Former officer James Burns shot and killed Deravis Caine Rogers, 22, in June. Atlanta’s Police Chief later fired Burns after an internal investigation found that Rogers posed no threat to the officer when he shot Rogers once in the head.
Burns had just arrived at an apartment complex in northwest Atlanta to assist another officer. He claimed he fired a shot at Rogers because he was trying to run him over with his vehicle, but an internal review said dash-cam videos proved the officer’s claim had no merit.
“It’s our hope that the grand jury will do the right thing and that he will be indicted,” said Mawuli Davis, an Atlanta attorney who helped organize the demonstration. “It’s time for justice, and Atlanta has an opportunity here to show the rest of the country what justice looks like in police involved shootings.”
For video, visit this link.
