Rayshard Brooks Death Case Substitute Prosecutor Named

ATLANTA — New prosecutors will lead cases against Atlanta Police facing charges in connection with the shooting death of Raynard Brooks and the tasing of two college students during Civil unrest last year.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Wednesday appointed Peter Skandalakis and Samir Patel to replace Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who recused herself and her office from prosecuting murder and aggravated assault charges against Officers Devin Brosnan and Garrett Rolfe, and assorted allegations against Roland Claud, Mark Gardner, Armon Jones, Lonnie Hood, Ivory Streeter, and Willie Sauls.

All of the officers were charged by former Fulton DA Paul Howard before he lost the election to Willis.

Rolfe was fired for the June 12, 2020 incident where he shot and killed Brooks as he fled with a Taser he had wrestled away from Brosnan during an arrest attempt. The Atlanta Civil Service Board, however, reinstated Rolfe in May. Both officers still face charges, with Rolfe carrying the most serious charges of felony murder and aggravated assault.

Also in June 2020, Taniya Pilgrim and Messiah say they were dragged from their car and tased by police officers during a protest downtown. The six officers in that case — Gardner, Jones, Streeter, Claud, Sauls, and Hood — were charged with either aggravated assault, simple battery, or destruction of property. Four of the officers were initially fired and the other two were assigned desk duty.

Skandalakis is the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, the organization that supports district attorneys and solicitor-generals, and their respective staffs across the state.

Patel is an associate at White and Choate in Cartersville and has served as a municipal court judge in Euharlee.