Rayshard Brooks' Family to Receive $1M from City of Atlanta

Mar. 15, 2025

Rayshard Brooks.Photo: Courtesy Stewart Trial Attorneys

The settlement comes more than three months after prosecutors dropped charges against the officers involved in Brooks' June 12, 2020 death on the grounds that they “committed no crimes” and used “reasonable” deadly force, according to NBC News.

In a statement, attorneys for the Brooks family said they were “disappointed that prosecutors didn’t pursue a criminal case against the officers involved in Mr. Brooks’s death,” but that the settlement money will “undoubtedly assist” the familywith future plans, perThe New York Times.

(Atlanta Police Department via AP)

The Atlanta man’s death occurred around three weeks afterGeorge Floyd’s murder and set off renewed outrage and demonstrations about the actions of police — not least because the tragic incident took place after Brooks fell asleep behind the wheel of his rental car while waiting in the drive-thru lane.

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Alleging Brooks smelled of alcohol, Brosnan requested a DUI-certified officer, and Garrett Rolfe was dispatched to the scene to assess the situation.

Brooks, who was unarmed, performed several field sobriety tests and was asked to submit to a Breathalyzer, which he did. When Rolfe and Brosnan attempted to handcuff him, believing him intoxicated, the interaction turned violent.

Brooks resisted the officers' attempts to take him into custody and was shot less than a minute later.

source: people.com