Former APD officer indicted on murder charges

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Fulton County grand jury has indicted a former Atlanta police officer on murder charges.

Then-Officer James Burns shot and killed Caine Rogers during a car break-in investigation in June 2016.

The parents of Caine Rogers let out a roar of emotion and pumped their fists into the air after learning a grand jury indicted  Burns on murder charges Wednesday.

[READ: Protesters hold vigil for unarmed man allegedly killed by former police officer]

"This is the first step in getting justice of our son Caine," said Deravis Thomas, Caine’s father.

"I feel like now my son didn't die in vain," mother Melva Rogers said.

Sources told Channel 2 Action News that after the prosecution presented its case against Burns, it only took the grand jury about 10 to 15 minutes to make a decision.

"Today we got some justice," Rogers said.

The family’s attorney, Sean Williams, said they deserve this outcome because he said Burns shot and killed Rogers for no good reason.

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"This indictment shows everybody across this nation that police officers should and would be treated the same way as other citizens," Williams said.

Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard made it clear he could not go into specific details about what was presented behind closed doors, because grand jury proceedings are not open to the public.

But he did say they had two eyewitnesses who testified, video evidence that didn't back up the officer's story and testimony from Atlanta Police Chief George Turner.

"Chief Turner is one of the few police chiefs in this country who appeared at a grand jury to unfortunately testify against one of his own officers," Howard said.

Turner fired Burns less than two weeks after the June 22 incident, when an internal affairs investigation found the shooting was not justified.

The former officer's defense attorney, Drew Findling, argued that Burns did nothing wrong and he plans on proving that when the case goes to trial.

"He thought his life was in danger so here we are, but our day will come. Trust me, our day will come," Findling said.

A crowd of demonstrators outside the courthouse let out a roar of excitement after getting news of the indictment.

Protesters say they will push for a swift conviction in this case.

The Atlanta Police Department released the following statement:

"The Atlanta Police Department is aware of the indictment by the Grand Jury of former police officer James Burns.  The Atlanta Police Department and Chief George Turner respect the criminal justice process and regardless of the outcome of the pending criminal prosecution, the Department stands by its decision to dismiss James Burns for his excessive and unnecessary use of force.  We set high standards for our personnel and always expect them to strive for excellence."

Cox Media Group