Who was Rayshard Brooks?

ATLANTA — Rayshard Brooks, the man killed by an Atlanta police officer at a Wendy’s Friday was the father of three girls and a had a stepson, his family said.

Brooks, 27, was killed after he got in a confrontation with police. The shooting led to the resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields and sparked a demonstration where hundreds of protesters marched through the city, setting fire to the restaurant where he was killed.

But who was Rayshard Brooks?

Attorneys L. Chris Stewart and Justin Miller have been hired to represent the family.

The family’s lawyers said Saturday night that Brooks’ daughters are 8, 2 and 1 and his stepson is 13. Brooks had been celebrating his daughter’s eighth birthday on Friday hours before he was killed. He was supposed to take her skating for her birthday on Saturday.

“She had her birthday dress on. She was waiting for her dad to come pick her up and take her skating,” Miller said.

But he never came home.

Brooks was fatally shot by Atlanta police Friday night in a Wendy’s parking lot after a struggle with authorities during a sobriety check. Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields resigned on Saturday. Officer Garrett Rolfe, who fired the fatal shots, was fired and the other officer Devin Brosnan was placed on administrative duty.

He worked at a tortilla shop and was loved by his family, CNN reported.

“I don’t know how to do this because I never knew that I was going to have to do this,” one of Brooks’ older cousins Decatur Redd said. “We’ve been watching this happen for so many years, with young black boys around the country just dying in vain -- I just don’t want that to continue and keep happening like that.”

Cox Media Group