Rayshard Brooks’s death was a homicide, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The medical examiner declared on Sunday that Brooks, 27, died from two “gunshot wounds of the back,” which caused “organ injuries and blood loss.” His manner of death was listed as a homicide.
Brooks, who was suspected driving under the influence, was fatally shot by Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe on Friday at a Wendy’s in the Georgia capital. Footage from the incident showed Brooks taking an officer’s Taser during the arrest and pointing it at him as he ran away. Rolfe then fired three shots at Brooks, who was later pronounced dead.
Rolfe was fired following the incident, and another officer who was present was placed on administrative duty.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said earlier Sunday that his office is considering filing charges against Rolfe and would decide on the matter sometime this week. The charges being considered include murder, felony murder, or involuntary manslaughter.
Brooks’s death comes amid a national conversation about police brutality and systemic racism sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died last month after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
