Officers shot and killed a Georgia pastor, Jonathan Ayers, 28 (and father to be) appeared to resist efforts to question him about a passenger in his car who was the target of a drug sting, authorities said. According to CNN, the police officers were in plain clothes and showing weapons.
Jonathan Ayers wasn't the target that ended in gunfire at a gas station Tuesday, Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said. But drug task-force agents opened fire on him after he tried to avoid them, putting his car in reverse and striking one of the officers, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Bankhead said agents approached Ayers after he dropped a woman off at a store about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. The passenger was the person being investigated by the task force.
A grainy surveillance video (below) from a nearby store shows Jonathan Ayers walking into the convenience store. Then the video switches to outside as two drug task-force agents emerge from a black SUV before Ayers' small car backs up. The agents fire into the passenger side of Ayers' car, and then it takes off with the agents running behind it.
It appears from the video that the police frightened Ayers, by rushing the SUV up to his car and jumping out without putting the SUV into park, and when they come up on him with guns out (and are in plain clothes) he attempts to drive away.
Jonathan Ayers died Wednesday, about an hour after he had surgery. The agent who was hit by Ayers' car was treated for minor injuries. Bankhead would not disclose the identity of the woman who was in Ayers' car, but said she's been charged with cocaine possession and distribution, according to the Chicago Tribune.
According to WNEG, initially, when this story was released, the police stated that Ayers was the person of interest that the police were looking for, but that statement has since been retracted.
CNN video of the shooting (no sound)
Recent articles from this examiner:
Jaycee Dugards aunt, Tina release new photos & family information today
Chris Brown interview on Larry King Live (video)
Station fire update – largest fire in So California history was human caused
Man falls off cruise ship and gets picked up by another one
Angry man slaps child at Walmart and is arrested
Skyline shooting in San Bruno, California
How will Jaycee Dugard psychologically deal with Stockholm syndrome
Charles Gibson steps down, Diane Sawyer up to ABC World News
Obama school speech directed to students – September 8, 2009
Tropical storm Erika moves toward Leeward Islands
Hurricane Jimena update as it moves up the Mexican coast
Bear escapes skateboarding park in Colorado (photos)
Glen Beck racist Obama comment has led 46 advertisers to pull out of his show
Comments
Once again extreme overreaction by the police and a general disregard for human life leads to the death of a citizen. The man was clearly driving away, not attacking, this was a murder.
The media reported that the men shouted "Police! Stop!" but if Ayers had his windows rolled up (and maybe music playing, even lightly), he would not have heard them. He would have just seen two psychotic looking thugs jumping out of an Escalade with guns drawn. Yeah... who wouldn't get out of there as fast as possible and by whatever means? I watched the video and the story that he threatened them with his car is total b.s. They were ALL OVER HIM, running around his car. He wasn't threatening them. He was just trying to get away and they were getting in his way. It's sickening, all of it.
If u have a badge you can paint the sky any color you want as long as it sounds politically correct. This is a major tragedy made by a coward cop I seen the video and anyone that tries to justify his death is as crooked as the coward cop hiself Who knows it could be you or me next I hope the wife sues the cop the county and anyone else that defends him.
A.: he probably had the air conditioning on too which makes noise. If folks don't know what fascism in American would look like, take a long hard look at this execution and whether the murderers are held accountable. You just can't do what these cops did in America (or what the cops in MD did to Mayor Calvo)! Or it ain't America anymore, it's a police state.
the only good cop is a dead cop!!!!!!!!!!!
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!