This is a developing story. Scroll down to see updates in chronological order.





On Feb. 8, 2023, the Atlanta Police Department released body camera footage yesterday from last month's fatal shooting near the planned public safety training center.



The Jan. 18, 2023 shooting resulted in the death of activist Manuel Teran and left an officer wounded.

On Jan. 23, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation received confirmation from a firearms transaction record that in September 2020, Manuel Esteban Paez Teran legally purchased the firearm that was used in the shooting of a Georgia State Patrol trooper.

The body camera videos released Feb. 8 by APD do not directly show the incidents.

GBI said officers directly involved were not wearing body cameras.



GBI said its ongoing investigation could take 60 to 90 days to complete.



The release of footage comes two days after Teran's family called for more transparency from the GBI in its investigation.

GPB is reviewing the footage.

 

Update: GBI released the following statement on Feb. 9 at 2:06 p.m.:

"The GBI is committed to a full, complete, and accurate investigation. Yesterday, the Atlanta Police Department released bodycam video of their officers who were involved in the joint operation to clear the site of the future City of Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. In those videos, at least one statement exists where an officer speculates that the Trooper was shot by another officer in crossfire. Speculation is not evidence.  Our investigation does not support that statement.   

We ask for your patience as we continue our investigation. In addition to the collection of evidence, forensic evaluation and analysis, the investigative process includes among other things the interview of not only the officers at the immediate scene, but also all personnel who were present during the operation.

When the investigation is complete, all videos will be provided. One of the rationales behind not publicly releasing videos during active investigations is that witness interviews are a key way to obtain information regarding facts surrounding an incident. Memory and perception are fragile, and a myriad of factors can influence perception and memory, including an individual’s background, experiences, the turmoil, and emotional impact of a significant incident, as well as the viewing of a video before giving a statement.  That is the rationale behind Georgia’s law which allows agencies to exempt the public disclosure of videos in an active investigation. (OCGA § 50-18-72(a)(4)).

The GBI is continuing to investigate the incident from January 18th and is being as comprehensive in the investigation as possible.  The initial assessment given by the GBI concerning the incident is still valid.  Our investigation will continue to look at every aspect, to include statements made at the scene, and each will be evaluated."





Update: Spears & Filipovits law firm released the following statement on Feb. 9:

A statement by the family of Manuel Paez Teran regarding the release of APD body cam footage on February 8, 2023:

The videos released by the City of Atlanta raise more questions than they answer, but confirm the family's worst fears that Manuel was massacred in a hail of gunfire. The videos also show the clearing of the forest was a paramilitary operation that set the stagefor the excessive use of force.The videos also call into question previous reports regarding the events leading to the police shooting of Manuel Paez Teran. The GBI’s refusal to provide the family access to the information in its possession continues to sow mistrust in it, particularly in light of the selective—and so far unsubstantiated—narrative it has put forth.The family of Manuel Paez Teran continues to call on the GBI and DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office to agree to a face-to-face meeting in which they share all the evidence collected in the investigation to date.

This is a developing story.





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Tags: Atlanta  Georgia  Cop City