Current:Home > reviewsPolice officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City' -Mastery Money Tools
Police officers won't face charges in fatal shooting of protester at 'Cop City'
View
Date:2025-04-12 12:04:00
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! (81)
Related
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- From Astronomy to Blockchain: The Journey of James Williams, the Crypto Visionary
- 'Justified: City Primeval': Cast, episode schedule, where to watch on TV, how to stream
- These Tank Tops Have 5,200+ 5-Star Reviews and You Can Get 3 for Just $29
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Even Zoom wants its workers back in the office: 'A hybrid approach'
- Whataburger is 73! How to get free burger on 'National Whataburger Day' Tuesday
- When do new 'Only Murders in the Building' episodes come out? Season 3 cast, schedule, how to watch
- 2025 'Doomsday Clock': This is how close we are to self
- NYC doctor sexually assaulted unconscious patients and filmed himself doing it, prosecutors say
Ranking
- Small twin
- 3-month-old baby dies after being left in hot car outside Houston medical center
- Jay-Z's Made in America 2023 festival canceled due to 'severe circumstances'
- Wayne Brady reveals he is pansexual
- All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
- After a glacial dam outburst destroyed homes in Alaska, a look at the risks of melting ice masses
- Logan Paul to fight Dillon Danis in his first boxing match since Floyd Mayweather bout
- England's Lauren James apologizes for stepping on opponent's back, red card at World Cup
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
U.S. Coast Guard suspends search for missing diver at Florida Keys shipwreck: This was a tragic accident
Prosecutors drop charges against ex-Chicago officer who struggled with Black woman on beach
Unsafe levels of likely cancer-causer found in underground launch centers on Montana nuclear missile base
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Federal report sheds new light on Alaska helicopter crash that killed 3 scientists, pilot
Jamie Lee Curtis' graphic novel shows how 'We're blowing it with Mother Nature'
Aaron Carter's Twin Sister Angel Reflects on His Battle With Addiction Before His Tragic Death