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Officers won't face charges for shooting anti-'Cop City' militant who shot Georgia state trooper in the gut



Police encountered a leftist militant earlier this year who had taken a forward operating position near the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center in DeKalb County's South River Forest, which radicals have dubbed "Cop City." Rather than comply with officers' lawful orders, the militant opened fire, striking a Georgia state trooper in the gut.

For crossing the blue line, 26-year-old Manuel Esteban Paez Teran paid the price.

On Friday, the special prosecutor tasked with investigating the shooting indicated that no criminal charges will be brought against the Georgia State Patrol troopers involved in the Venezuelan's demise.

The shooting

Leftist groups have long campaigned against the construction of the new $90 million police training center in Dekalb County's South River Forest, employing terroristic tactics to get their way.

Militants have conducted firebombings on police officers and law enforcement offices; attacks on firefighters and medics; sabotage on construction equipment; and intimidation efforts at the home of at least one state trooper.

In response this violent campaign, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a joint operation on Jan. 18 near the future training center in order to "identify people who are trespassing and committing other crimes on the property," according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

In his 31-page report released Friday, Mountain Circuit District Attorney Pro Tempore George R. Christian noted the operation comprised two teams, the second of which included GSP SWAT team members, GBI special agents, Atlanta Police Department officers, and K-9 units.

This second team, assigned to an area known as RC Park, cleared a barricade and entered a wooded area, where they removed three individuals without incident. After dealing with the initial group of trespassers, officers encountered Teran.

Teran, a radical who used "they/it" pronouns, was in his tent with the flap closed when troopers arrived. The troopers present at the time of the shooting were Mark Lamb, Jonathan Salcedo, Bryland Myers, Ronaldo Kegel, Royce Zah, and Jerry Parrish.

According to the prosecutor, the troopers clearly identified themselves as members of law enforcement — a fact also clear from the unmistakable markings on their uniforms. Teran reportedly refused to leave, prompting troopers to use nonlethal pepper ball rounds.

In response to the nonlethal rounds, "Teran began firing from inside the tent at the Troopers," wrote Christian.

It appears from the report that Teran fired at least four shots. One of those bullets struck Parrish "in the body below his armor plate and above his belt on his right side" and ended up "lodged adjacent to his spine."

Having been forewarned of possible improvised explosive devices in the area, hearing the gunshots, and figuring at least one of their fellow officers for wounded or worse, the troopers — including Parrish — returned fire. They managed to hit Teran at least 57 times.

Investigators found a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm, 90 rounds of handgun ammunition, foreign currency, a Venezuelan passport, an Industrial Workers of the World membership card, a Florida driver's license, and a Panamanian ID card in Teran's tent.

The reaction

In the aftermath of the shooting, leftist groups called for retaliation.

TheBlaze previously reported that in one post on the website "Scenes from the Atlanta Forest," leftists noted, "An unnamed forest defender has been shot and killed in Weelaunee. Consider this a call for reciprocal violence to be done to the police and their allies. On Friday, January 20th, wherever you are, you are invited to participate in a night of rage in order to honor the memory of our fallen comrade. ... Make them pay."

Various radicals took to the streets in the days that followed, including Jared Dowell, the son of House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.).

A nonprofit founded by twice-failed gubernatorial candidate and election denier Stacey Abrams sided with the extremists, demanding "justice" for Teran, who went by "Tortuguita."

According to the special prosecutor, justice had already been served on Jan. 18.

Justified

Christian wrote that in light of "the severity of the crimes of Aggravated Assault, Felony Obstruction and Hindering, Attempted Murder, and Possession of a Firearm During commission of these crimes that were committed by Teran, Teran was an immediate threat to Lamb and his fellow Troopers."

"Looking at the totality of the circumstances, the use of lethal (deadly) force was objectively reasonable and Trooper Lamb did not act with any criminal intent," added Christian.

The prosecutor reached the same conclusion for all other troopers involved, indicating no criminal charges will be brought against them as they "did not commit any criminal offense."

Unhappy leftists

Reuters reported that Brian Spears, an attorney for Teran's family, said that the family is disappointed by Christian's decision, urging officials to release the full report.

"Release the file now. No more excuses," said Joel Paez, Teran's father, reported WSB-TV.

The GBI indicated in a statement that requests for records in this case will be denied until that time the criminal investigation and prosecution by the state of Georgia and Attorney General's Office are no longer pending.

Teran's mother responded to the results of the investigation, saying, "No matter how the case is resolved, nothing will bring Manuel back. ... For me, justice would be for people to follow Manuel's example," reported the Guardian.

The Vote to Stop Cop City campaign issued a statement on X, saying, "The state's response to Tortuguita's murder has been to lie and cover up the facts. Today's announcement is just the latest in a long line of changing stories and withholding evidence. Tortuguita's memory and the memories of all those stolen by police killings demand that we all continue the collective struggle for a future without state violence. In their name, we fight to Stop Cop City."

Defend the Atlanta Forest wrote, "Justice doesnt [sic] come from the courts; it comes from our dedication to fight for liberation through hardships. We honor the dead by refusing to give up."

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Georgia's Republican AG announces indictment of 61 leftists under the RICO statute used just weeks ago against Trump



In a controversial move, Democratic Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged former President Donald Trump last month under Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. It appears Willis, the proud daughter of a top Black Panther, may have unwittingly opened Pandora's box as it pertains to the acceptability of lawfare in the state — to the detriment of her fellow leftists.

Georgia's Republican attorney general made clear Tuesday that the gloves are now off, indicting 61 radicals under the same statute.

Now with the shoe on the other foot, leftists are decrying the RICO charges, calling them "anti-democratic," reported the Associated Press.

What's the background?

Leftist militants have long campaigned against the construction of the new $90 million police training center in Dekalb County's South River Forest, employing terroristic tactics to get their way.

Gov. Brian Kemp (R) noted earlier this year that "domestic terrorism will NOT be tolerated in this state. ... We will not rest until those who use violence and intimidation for an extremist end are brought to justice."

In January, Attorney General Chris Carr put the extremists — who have enjoyed support from Democrat-affiliated entities and other liberal outfits — on notice, stressing, "We are not Oregon. We are not California. We are not Washington. You cannot come to our state, break our laws, throw rocks at buildings, damage property, and shoot police officers. You can and you will be charged, and that's exactly what we're doing."

In the months since, dozens of radicals including a Southern Poverty Law Center attorney have been charged in connection to the so-called "Stop Cop City" movement.

Three dozen have been slapped with domestic terrorism charges. Three have been hit with felony intimidation charges for reportedly distributing flyers accusing a state trooper of being a "murderer" for killing a violent extremist. Three radicals involved with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund were charged in May with charities fraud and money laundering.

While some of these charges might ultimately stick, it appears that Carr is not taking anything for granted. Besides, now if convicted under RICO, the extremists' sentences could be greatly compounded.

Accountability

Carr came through Tuesday with a sweeping indictment, slapping 61 extremists in Fulton County with racketeering charges.

All of those indicted are members of Defend the Atlanta Forest, which Carr's office characterized in a statement as an "anarchist, anti-police, and anti-business extremist organization."

Carr said in press conference concerning the charges, "As the indictment asserts, members of Defend the Atlanta Forest subscribe to a philosophy of anarchy. They hold a core belief that society should abolish police, government, and private business, and as further alleged, they're willing to bring about such changes 'by any means necessary,'" reported the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Georgia attorney general's office indicated the 61 defendants "are alleged to have conspired together to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by conducting, coordinating, and organizing acts of violence, intimidation, and property destruction in Fulton County, elsewhere in the State of Georgia, and other states."

Forty-three of the defendants were previously charged with domestic terrorism.

Of the 61 suspects indicted, only 13 are from Georgia.

— (@)

"As this indictment shows, looking the other way when violence occurs is not an option in Georgia," said Carr.

"If you come to our state and shoot a police officer, throw Molotov cocktails at law enforcement, set fire to police vehicles, damage construction equipment, vandalize private homes and businesses, and terrorize their occupants, you can and will be held accountable," Carr continued. "We will not waver when it comes to keeping people safe, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring those who engage in criminal activity are vigorously pursued and aggressively prosecuted."

Among the 225 incidents identified in the indictments, one was the "Night of Rage" planned for Jan. 21, 2023, in the aftermath of a police-involved shooting. An extremist had shot a Georgia State Patrol trooper in the gut, but that's not what enraged leftists. Instead, the anti-police radicals took issue with law enforcement officers subsequently putting the leftist gunman in the ground.

TheBlaze previously reported that the son of House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), not among those named in the indictment, got a slap on the wrists for participating in the so-called night of rage. Police indicated Jared Dowell not only assaulted an officer but vandalized a Boston monument, writing, "NO COP CITY" and "ACAB."

Other incidents accounted for in the indictment include: firebombings on police officers and law enforcement offices; attacks on firefighters and medics; sabotage on construction equipment; and intimidation efforts at the home of at least one state trooper.

Greg Bluestein of the Journal-Constitution confirmed that the Fulton County grand jury used to indict Trump and his co-defendants was the same that handed up the indictments against the 61 leftists.

The case has been assigned to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Esmond Adams.

Outrage

The Cop City Vote Coalition, a radical outfit dedicated to preventing the construction of the police training center, called the charges "authoritarian" and "anti-democratic," suggesting in a statement, "These charges, like the previous repressive prosecutions by the State of Georgia, seek to intimidate protestors, legal observers, and bail funds alike, and send the chilling message that any dissent to Cop City will be punished with the full power and violence of the government."

The ACLU called the indictments "unprecedented and extremely concerning," adding that the organization is "tracking the situation closely."

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Gov. Kemp Signs Bill Banning Dark Money From Georgia Elections, Dashing Democrats’ Latest Infiltration Efforts

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