Current:Home > NewsPolice officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City' -MoneyFlow Academy
Police officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City'
View
Date:2025-04-17 12:15:43
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! (66)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Vermont town official, his wife and her son found shot to death in their home
- Woman accused of driving an SUV into a crowd in Minneapolis and killing a teenager
- You Have 1 Day Left To Get 40% off Lands’ End Sitewide Sale With Fall Styles Starting at $9
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Singer JoJo Addresses Rumor of Cold Encounter With Christina Aguilera
- Woman accused of driving an SUV into a crowd in Minneapolis and killing a teenager
- Grand prize winner removed 20 Burmese pythons from the wild in Florida challenge
- Small twin
- Anna Delvey's 'lackluster' 'Dancing With the Stars' debut gets icy reception from peeved viewers
Ranking
- Appeals court scraps Nasdaq boardroom diversity rules in latest DEI setback
- Man now faces murder charge for police pursuit crash that killed Missouri officer
- Ulta & Sephora Flash Sales: Get 50% Off Kylie Jenner's Kylie Cosmetics Lip Oil, IGK Dry Shampoo & More
- US sends soldiers to Alaska amid Russian military activity increase in the area
- Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
- Small plane lands safely at Boston’s Logan airport with just one wheel deployed
- NFL power rankings Week 3: Chiefs still No. 1, but top five overhaul occurs after chaotic weekend
- Ping pong balls thrown at Atlanta city council members in protest of mayor, 'Cop City'
Recommendation
The 401(k) millionaires club keeps growing. We'll tell you how to join.
Georgia house fire victims had been shot before blaze erupted
Caitlin Clark finishes regular season Thursday: How to watch Fever vs. Mystics
Washington gubernatorial debate pits attorney general vs. ex-sheriff who helped nab serial killer
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Federal Reserve is set to cut interest rates for the first time in 4 years
Honolulu Police Department is adding dozens of extra police officers to westside patrols
RHOC's Emily Simpson Tearfully Confronts Heather Dubrow Over Feeling Singled Out for Her Body