Atlanta

Police, sanitation crews clearing items left outside Wendy’s after violent weekend

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ATLANTA — Police and sanitation crews have started removing items outside the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed last month.

On Monday morning, crews with trash bags began tossing many of the items that appear to have been left as a memorial.

Atlanta Fire Department said there were liability issues and environmental issues at the site. Crews placed barriers at all of the entrances of the restaurant.

The removal comes after a violent weekend in Atlanta, during which an 8-year-old girl was killed near the same Wendy’s on University Avenue.

[PHOTOS: Crews clean up Rayshard Brooks memorial at Atlanta Wendy’s]

Secoriea Turner was riding in a car with her mother and her mother’s friend when they exited the interstate at University Avenue. The driver tried to turn into the parking lot at 1238 Pryor Road when he was confronted by an “group of armed individuals” who had blocked the entrance.

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“At some point, someone in that group opened fire on the vehicle, striking it multiple times and striking the child who was inside. The driver then drove to Atlanta Medical Center for help,” police said in a statement.

Turner died at the hospital.

Brooks’ family said they were told by Atlanta City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd that they would be able to keep the memorial up. But Sheperd said when the girl was killed, that changed everything.

Monday, workers tore down structures and threw away items while a sweeper cleaned the parking lot. People who used it for peaceful protests had to pack up their tents, their beds and coolers and get out.

“We had nothing to do with the shooting, and y’all know that,” Brooks said. “Why are they hear tearing and trashing what we built? They knew that this was a peaceful spot. Nothing supposed to been touched here. Nothing.”

No one is being allowed onto the site any longer.

On Sunday night, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms blasted those who had turned violent.

“You cant blame this on a police officer. You can’t say this about criminal justice reform,” Bottoms said. “This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an 8-year-old baby in the car for what?!?

“Enough is enough,” Bottoms continued. “If you want people to take us seriously and you don’t want us to lose this movement, we can’t lose each other.”

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