Atlanta hotel owners gift Rayshard Brooks' widow a new car, also life insurance and tuition for their 3 kids
The widow of Rayshard Brooks – the African-American man who was fatally shot dead in the parking lot of an Atlanta Wendy's by a police officer – has been showered with generous gifts from a number of big-hearted donors.
According to TMZ, Tomika Miller, was surprised after she received a new car on Friday, as well as life insurance for their three children and fully-funded tuition for them to attend Clark Atlanta University. She received the keys to her new ride – a brand new Ford Escape – at her lawyer L. Chris Stewart's law firm. It was reported that the tab for the car, life insurance and the college tuition was split between a couple of Atlanta restaurant owners – Pinky Cole, who owns Slutty Vegan and Derrick Hayes, who runs Big Dave's Cheesesteaks.
Brooks was allegedly shot dead by officer Garrett Rolfe in a parking lot at a Wendy’s outlet on Friday, June 12, at night. It was reported by the investigators that Brooks had a tiff with Rolfe and another officer, Devin Brosnan before he took one of their Tasers and fled while pointing it at Rolfe. The latter then shot back at Brooks with his sidearm, killing him. While Rolfe was dismissed from the force the next day, June 13, Brosnan was placed on administrative leave pending an internal probe. Like the George Floyd case, a video of Brooks’ killing also surfaced.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which was probing the shooting, said the confrontation between Brooks and the police officers started after the cops responded to a complaint that a man was sleeping in a car that was blocking the restaurant’s approach lane. The bureau said Brooks failed a sobriety test and then took on the officers as they tried to arrest him. The black man was a father of four and celebrated one of his kids’ eighth birthday before meeting his end. Brooks has left behind his wife and their kids, eight-year-old Blessing, two-year-old Memory, and one-year-old Dream. He also had a stepson, 13-year-old Mekai.
Rolfe is currently in police custody as both he and Brosnan face charges for Brooks' death. Rolfe faces felony murder and ten other charges in Brooks' death, following the shooting at a Wendy's drive-through last week. He was terminated from the police force following the incident. Brosnan is charged with one count of aggravated assault for allegedly standing on Brooks' shoulders as he lay dying in the parking lot. Brosnan also faces two counts of violation of oath of office. He turned himself in on June 18 and was released on a signature bond.
On Thursday, June 18, Miler said on the 'Today' show hile she is glad to see the charges against the former police officer who killed her husband, she was aware of the fact that they are not going to bring her husband back. "It's just very emotional," Miller said. "Father's Day is coming up, and all I can keep thinking about is my husband won’t be here. No matter how many charges they face, it's not going to bring him back."