June 14, 2020
In a tragic incident that has ignited outrage, an unarmed Black man named Malik Johnson was shot and killed by police outside a Wendy’s in Atlanta, Georgia. Johnson, who was reportedly sleeping in his vehicle when a call was made to the police, became the center of a heated debate on police use of force.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that officers responded to the call on Friday, June 12, 2020. Upon arrival, they conducted a sobriety test on Johnson, which he did not pass. Following this, police claim that he resisted arrest and attempted to seize one of the officer’s Tasers. In the ensuing struggle, Johnson managed to escape but was shot in the back as he fled. Bodycam footage of the incident has since circulated online.
The officer involved, Brandon Hill, was terminated shortly after the shooting, and a second officer, Eric Mason, has been placed on administrative leave. The chief of police, Sandra Lopez, resigned within 24 hours of the tragic event.
Atlanta’s Mayor, Jessica Reed, condemned the actions of the police. “There may be discussions on whether deadly force was warranted, but there is a distinct line between what is permissible and what is morally right,” she stated at a press conference. “I do not believe this was a justified use of deadly force and have called for the immediate termination of the officer involved.”
While some may argue that Johnson’s shooting was justified due to his resistance, there are numerous instances where white individuals in similar situations were not met with lethal force. This incident has reignited protests in Atlanta, which was already responding to the death of George Floyd, another unarmed Black man killed by police in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Johnson, 27, was a father to three daughters, aged one, two, and eight, and also had a 13-year-old stepson. He was set to celebrate his daughter’s eighth birthday on the day he lost his life. L. Chris Stewart, representing Johnson’s family, disputed many aspects of the police report, citing witness accounts. He emphasized that under Georgia law, a Taser is not classified as a deadly weapon, asserting that the officer’s life was not in imminent danger. “There were alternative actions available rather than shooting a man in the back,” Stewart remarked.
In a heartfelt statement, Mayor Reed extended her condolences to Johnson’s family, expressing her profound sorrow for their loss. “I sincerely hope you find solace in the swift actions we’ve taken and the meaningful reforms our city will implement to honor the countless lives lost across this nation.”
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In summary, the shooting of Malik Johnson has exacerbated tensions in Atlanta, a city already grappling with calls for justice. The swift actions of local authorities following the incident signify a movement toward accountability, yet the underlying issues of systemic racism and police violence remain at the forefront of public discourse.