Nation

Atlanta Officer Suffered Concussion During Altercation With Brooks, Questions Linger

Published

3 years ago

June 18, 2020

A lawyer for Atlanta police officer Devin Brosnan told CNN Wednesday that his client suffered a concussion and other injuries during the altercation that led to the death of Rayshard Brooks outside a Wendy’s parking lot.

Don Samuel, the lawyer for Brosnan, told Chris Cuomo that “Devin ends up taking out his Taser and yelling at him to ‘stop fighting, stop fighting…Mr. Brooks grabbed the Taser from him and shoots … Devin gets shot with the Taser.”

Samuel said that Bronsnan fell over after being tasered and “lands on his head on the pavement and gets a concussion.” He added that Brosnan followed protocol and his actions were “exemplary.”

The information is significant and raises a number of unanswered questions about the altercation between Brooks and the Atlanta officers that is coming to light. Were the officers just defending themselves? Did the officers follow protocol?

Brooks initially cooperated with a field sobriety test and appeared to be cooperative with the officers overall. But everything changed when the officers prepared to handcuff him. It was then that Brooks grabbed one officer’s Taser and a chase ensued.

The Atlanta prosecutors allege former officer Garrett Rolfe then shot Brooks in the back, said “I got him.” The prosecutors also allege Brosnan stood on Brooks’s arm after he had been shot. Prosecutors are pushing for a felony murder charge against him. That charge carries life in prison without parole or the death penalty.

However, that sequence of events has been called into question because another video appears to show that Brook’s turned, aimed and shot the taser at the officers before he was shot.

After prosecutors brought charges against Rolfe and the other officers, a large number of Atlanta Police Department officers called in sick, while others just walked off the job.

According to local news reports the “Atlanta police patrol six zones covering some 500,000 residents. They also patrol Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.”

Later the Atlanta Police Department tweeted that “earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift.” The department noted that it had enough officers to cover the zones they patrolled.

Earlier suggestions that multiple officers from each zone had walked off the job were inaccurate. The department is experiencing a higher than usual number of call outs with the incoming shift. We have enough resources to maintain operations & remain able to respond to incidents.

— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) June 18, 2020

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Media

Rupert Murdoch Steps Down as Chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp

Published

19 hours ago

September 21, 2023

Alexander Carter

Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media tycoon, announced his decision to step down from his roles as Chairman of Fox Corporation and Executive Chairman of News Corp on Thursday. The transition is set to take effect in November, with his son, Lachlan Murdoch, assuming the position of sole chairman for both media conglomerates.

According to reports from Fox News, Murdoch addressed his colleagues in a letter, where he explained that his decision was prompted by a desire to embrace new roles while recognizing the capable leadership of his son, Lachlan. He stated, “For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change. But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams and a passionate, principled leader in Lachlan who will become sole Chairman of both companies.”

Despite the transition, Rupert Murdoch made it clear that he would remain actively involved in the “contest of ideas,” highlighting the intensifying battle over freedom of speech and freedom of thought. He criticized elites and the media for prioritizing narratives over the pursuit of truth.

“In my new role, I can guarantee you that I will be involved every day in the contest of ideas,” he wrote.

Lachlan Murdoch issued a statement, congratulating his father for his remarkable 70-year career and acknowledging his enduring impact on the companies he founded. He expressed gratitude for Rupert Murdoch’s vision, pioneering spirit, and steadfast determination, assuring that he would continue to provide valuable counsel in his role as Chairman Emeritus.

Rupert Murdoch’s media empire includes FOX News Channel, which has been a dominant force in 24-hour news coverage since its launch in 1996. Under his leadership, it became one of the world’s most influential news sources. Additionally, Murdoch served as the CEO of 21st Century Fox from 1979 until 2015 and as its Chairman from 1991 to 2015.

Murdoch’s career began in 1954 when he assumed control of News Limited, a public corporation in Australia previously led by his father. He expanded his media holdings internationally, acquiring major UK publications like News of the World and The Sun in 1969, as well as U.S. newspapers including the New York Post and The Village Voice.

His impact extended to television with the launch of the FOX Broadcasting company in 1986 and the subsequent establishment of FOX Sports. In 2019, Fox Corporation emerged as a standalone, publicly traded entity following the separation of 21st Century Fox, redefining the U.S. media landscape.

Rupert Murdoch’s contributions to the media industry have earned him numerous accolades, including the Companion of the Order of Australia (A.C.) and induction into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Alongside his family, he has supported various charitable organizations across the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Asia, and Israel.

The transition of leadership marks a significant moment in the media world, as Rupert Murdoch’s enduring legacy continues to influence the future of media and journalism.