Community calls for police accountability after fatal shooting of Linton Blackwell

Linton Blackwell right was allegedly shot time sin the back by an off-duty Atlanta officer Photo courtesy of Erika Bouttry During the Dec Atlanta City Council meeting family and friends of Linton Blackwell spoke during populace comment to demand accountability and answers nearly two months after his fatal shooting by an off-duty Atlanta Police officer Blackwell known in Atlanta s music district as B-Green was shot by Gerald Walker on Oct outside of a Buckhead bar Timothy Coleman Blackwell s manager and friend advised Alive that there was an altercation inside Paces Inn before Blackwell was escorted out but then Walker who was working an extra job as safeguard ensued chased him down and gunned him down The Georgia Bureau of Review alleges that Walker observed Blackwell enter his car in the parking lot behind the bar grab something resembling a firearm and put it in his waistband at the small of his back The GBI says the officer gave commands related to the gun before opening fire but Coleman and Blackwell s other loved ones argue that the shots in his back are evidence that he wasn t a threat since he was facing away from Walker Now Blackwell s friends and family are demanding a full release of body cam footage the officer s complaint and disciplinary history clear communication with his family and adjustment to prevent similar incidents from happening again While the Atlanta Police Department is conducting an internal study Blackwell s loved ones also insist on an independent examination by an outside agency If the shooting was justified prove it Darius Blackwell Linton s cousin mentioned during constituents comment on Monday If it was not be honest about it Particular speakers during the city council meeting demanded Walker be locked up Others argued that Blackwell s death is further evidence of Atlanta s police violence matter If somebody did to my dad or my mom or my brother what was done to Linton Blackwell Alexia Christian Jimmy Atchison Jayvis Benjamin Anthony Hill Shali Tilson Rayshard Brooks Devon Anderson Maisie Thompson a local artist revealed I could light this city on fire and not feel a thing Blackwell is survived by his -year-old twin daughters Destiny and Dynasty Erika Bouttry his daughters mother alleged during population comment that Walker had a violent history Records obtained by Capital B Atlanta show seven work rule violations filed against Walker He is in a probationary period in connection to four developing complaints three of which relate to APD s standard operating procedures around body cameras and one relating to standard arrest procedures I m here because my daughters deserve a city that acknowledges what happened to their father Bouttry reported The GBI probe is ongoing The situation will be turned over to the Fulton County District Attorney s Office once the agency completes its findings which will then determine whether the event is presented to a grand jury Related stories Trans woman s Tucker library encounter sparks review by DeKalb County Police Atlanta City Council approves affordable housing infrastructure decree at final meeting The post District calls for police accountability after fatal shooting of Linton Blackwell appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta