When Atlanta police officers arrived to check on Rayshard Brooks, who had fallen asleep in the drive-thru of an SW Atlanta Wendy’s, he told the officers he was meeting his “girlfriend” and was buying food for both of them. He identified his girlfriend as ‘Natalie White’ to the officers.
During the conversation with officers, Brooks was eventually arrested when he failed a sobriety test. Knowing he would be going back to prison, Brooks panicked and fought with the arresting officers. He took a stun gun and fired it at officers as he was running away. He was shot and killed. The investigation into what happened that night is ongoing.
Fast forward, and the Wendy’s where the police officers struggled with and then shot a fleeing Brooks was torched during a protest.
A woman was seen at the window of the Wendy’s and was identified as ‘Natalie White’ who would eventually also be identified as Brooks’ ‘girlfriend’ who was to meet Brooks at the Wendys on the night he died.
Fire investigators issued a warrant for the arrest of Natalie White, but there are more suspects involved in the arson:
Atlanta Fire Chief Randall Slaughter spoke about the investigation:
“Solving this arson crime has become a top priority for me. The setting of fires is a distraction from the message that the demonstrators and protesters are trying to put forward.”
An arrest warrant has been issued by Atlanta Fire Investigators for Ms. Natalie White. She has been identified as a suspect in the arson fire that burned down the Wendy’s Restaurant (125 University Ave) on Saturday, June 13th. Call 404-577-TIPS or 1-800-282-5804 with any info. pic.twitter.com/Xu6W2hgOi6
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) June 20, 2020
Natalie White turned herself in to police today on the day Rayshard Brooks was laid to rest.
Previous report on the Wendy’s fire:
A southwest Atlanta Wendy’s went up in flames, assuring the loss of jobs and the loss of a business by a franchisee. It’s difficult to understand how burning a business to the ground accomplishes anything.
BREAKING: The Wendy's in Atlanta on University Avenue is engulfed in flames. THIS IS NOT GOOD.
Burning shit down is not the answer. pic.twitter.com/twdSbpzELH
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 14, 2020
Atlanta: Wendy's on University Ave. on fire as protests have taken over the interstate in response to the killing of Rayshard Brooks by police on Friday.
Police chief Erika Shields has reportedly resigned following weeks of protest. Video: CBS affiliate pic.twitter.com/6d9OthFBrQ
— Camila (@PrensaCamila) June 14, 2020
Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields stepped down after the killing of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks by the Atlanta police. Brooks was fatally shot by officers in a struggle.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said, “I do not believe that this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer.”
This sparked a new wave of protests in Atlanta after turbulent demonstrations that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis had simmered down.
Protesters completely blocked off the connector in Atlanta tonight. Both I-75 and I-85 are shut down.
Video below shows a line of people stretching across the highway:
Oh my God protesters in Atlanta have COMPLETELY shut down I-75 right now in response to the murder of #RayshardBrooks
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) June 14, 2020
Here we go again with the riots and looting:
Fires broke out at the Wendy’s restaurant where the shooting incident involving Atlanta police and Rayshard Brooks happened Friday night. The BP gas station next door is being looted.
https://twitter.com/ZevMarrReports/status/1271991861398380549?s=20
Wendy’s up in flames:
Wendy’s on University Ave in SW Atlanta is on fire. #AtlantaShooting pic.twitter.com/ar59F17GW0
— Ric Garni (@RICGARNI) June 14, 2020
HAPPENING NOW: 40 Minutes since fires have been set in and around Wendy's and streets blocked as protestors celebrate, no police response has been seen in Atlanta pic.twitter.com/OR8Y4YS0mL
— CryptøManiac101 🅐 (@_Crypto_Maniac_) June 14, 2020
Rayshard Brooks was married and had three children with his wife Tomika Miller (pictured below)
Please pray for Brooks’ family and especially for his children.