ATLANTA — Fury over the death of a black man at the hands of an Atlanta police officer boiled over Saturday night, leaving the Wendy’s where he was killed burning.
Rayshard Brooks, 27, was shot and killed at a the Wendy’s on University Ave. Friday during a struggle with police after a sobriety check. The GBI said Saturday that it appeared that Brooks got hold of one of the officer’s Tasers and ran from police before turning the weapon on them. Police then shot him.
On Saturday night, protesters congregated at the site where Brooks was killed, setting the Wendy’s on fire and blocking the highway for hours.
As of midnight, Atlanta police said 36 arrests were made Saturday night. Any additional arrests made after midnight will be updated accordingly, a spokesperson said.
Here’s how the protests happened in reverse order:
7:19 a.m. People have arrived at the Wendy’s to see what is left of it the morning after the fire. Channel 2′s Tony Thomas is live outside the fast-food restaurant.
2:23 a.m: Channel 2′s Matt Johnson and Audrey Washington report on police’s efforts to disperse the protesters.
1:58 a.m. Police have announced protesters must disperse and leave immediately. They are using a high frequency sound to drive off the few people left in the intersection. Channel 2 photographers showed at least two men being put into handcuffs as the crowd thinned out quickly.
1:53 a.m. Channel 2′s Matt Johnson reports that police are moving in to stop looters who are raiding a convenience store on University Avenue.
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1:40 a.m. Protesters have started to break windows on a BP gas station in the same intersection as the Wendy’s that burned.
12:50 a.m.
Protesters are still on the streets but things have calmed down a bit.
12: 30 a.m.
New video released by Atlanta Police shows police talking with Brooks for 27 minutes before they try to handcuff him and the scuffle ensues. Both of the APD bodycams end up on the pavement before the shooting.
12:21 a.m.
Atlanta Police Spokesman Carlos Campos confirmed to ABC News early Sunday morning that the officer who shot Brooks has been fired. The officer has been identified as Garrett Rolfe. The other officer, Devin Bronsan, has been placed on administrative duty.
Rolfe has been with APD since 2013.
11:23 p.m.
Protesters are demanding the arrest of police.
11:05 p.m.
Firetrucks have arrived at the scene. Firefighters said it took over an hour to get to the scene because of protesters.
10:39 p.m.
The Wendy’s is fully engulfed in flames and smoke as protesters continue to occupy the street.
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9:56 p.m.
The Wendy’s is still burning on University Ave.
9:38 p.m.
Protesters have broken out the windows of the Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed and set fire to the inside.
9:08 p.m.
Protesters have shut down all lanes of the southbound downtown connector at University Avenue.
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8:57 p.m.
Protesters are trying once again to get onto the interstate:
8:45 p.m.
Washington said police have fired smoke bombs onto the crowd.
8:00 p.m.
Atlanta Police have arrived at the scene in front of Wendy’s and people are not happy about it.
7:14 p.m.
Washington captured the moment that people protesting George Floyd’s death downtown met up with people demanding justice for Brooks outside the Wendy’s where he was killed.
6:00 p.m.
Washington talked to protesters in the crowd.
“I thought Atlanta was higher than that. I thought we was bigger than that,” one protester said. “I just want to make enough noise that they investigate the situation.”
“Y’all took him away from his wife and kids,” another protester said. “That boy wasn’t breaking no crime. He went to get something to eat and fell asleep.”