Atlanta cops have released images of a second armed person of interest who is wanted for questioning in connection to the fatal shooting o...
Atlanta cops have released images of a second armed person of interest who is wanted for questioning in connection to the fatal shooting of an eight-year-old girl.
Police shared the photos that show the man near the scene where Secoriea Turner was shot dead on July 4 during protests outside the Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed.
Authorities said Secoriea was killed when gunmen opened fire on her mother's SUV while she was trying to drive through an illegal roadblock set up by protesters.
The second person of interest is seen with a large rifle strapped to his body and a black crossbody bag over his shoulder.
The second person of interest (left) in connection to the murder of Secoriea Turner (right) is seen with a large rifle strapped to his body and a black crossbody bag over his shoulder
Police shared the photos that show the armed man who was near the scene when Secoriea was shot dead on July 4 during protests outside the Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed
Officers from the Atlanta Police Department said they are searching for four suspects for questioning in connection with the slaying.
Last week, police released video of a person of interest who was also seen carrying an AR-15.
Authorities said that male was also in the area when Secoriea was killed.
Secoriea's death came during a weekend of violence in the city that prompted the Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to tell Black Lives Matter protesters that 'enough is enough' following weeks of tension after Brooks was shot and killed by a white cop on June 12.
'You can’t blame this on a police officer,' the mayor said during an emotional press conference on July 5.
'You can’t say this about criminal justice reform. This is about some people carrying some weapons who shot up a car with an 8-year-old baby in the car for what?'
The video shows a man in a white T-shirt, black pants and sneakers carrying an AR-15 assault rifle in the area of University Avenue and Pryor Road.
The Atlanta Police Department on Tuesday released this short clip that shows a gunman carrying AR-15 near the scene where Secoriea was shot on July 4th
Secoriea (left) was riding in the back of her mother's SUV when they encountered an illegal roadblock and tried to go through it. Police say gunmen immediately opened fire
Atlanta police Lt Pete Malecki told reporters last week that investigators believe the shots were fired intentionally at Charmaine Turner's 2016 Jeep Cherokee when it crossed a barricade manned by a group of armed individuals.
The Wendy's - which was burned down in protests after Brooks' killing - has since become a site for demonstrations against police brutality and has been patrolled by people carrying guns.
Turner's vehicle was struck by at least eight rounds. Secoriea was rushed to Atlanta Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
The Atlanta police lieutenant also revealed that there is no evidence to suggest that the gunmen opened fire on Turner's SUV in self-defense.
'She was only 8 years old. She would have been on TikTok dancing on her phone, just got done eating,' her heartbroken mother said.
'We understand the frustration of Rayshard Brooks. We didn’t have anything to do with that. We’re innocent. My baby didn’t mean no harm.'
'The girl just wanted to get home to see her cousins,' said her father, Secoriya Williamson. 'They say Black lives matter,' he said. 'You killed your own.'
At least intermittently, armed people had manned a barricade on the street in front of the Wendy's.
Police had removed barricades at least once before, but one journalist was assaulted near the site and gunmen threatened or turned back other people.
Atlanta police helped sanitation crews clear the area last Monday, despite some protesters who said they were not part of the violence.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms held an emotional press conference that was attended by Secoriea's grieving mother, Charmaine (seen seated)
Charmaine Turner said of her daughter: 'She was only 8 years old. She would have been on TikTok dancing on her phone, just got done eating'
Secoriea's family have described the eight-year-old as a star student who loved playing with her phone. She is survived by her parents and two brothers
A $20,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Secoriea's case.
'I’m confident that somebody knows the name of this man,' Malecki said, pointing to the unnamed person of interest brandishing the AR-15 in the video who is wanted for questioning. 'It's an opportunity to do the right thing.'
According to the description of a GoFundMe campaign launched by Charmaine, Secoriea, the youngest of her three children, was a star student at Kipp Academy who loved spending time with her family, including her two brothers, ages seven and 10, and playing with her phone.
'She loved the simple things in life and now her life has been taken,' her mother wrote.
'This tragedy has caused tremendous hurt and indescribable pain as we look to put the pieces to our lives back together and seek justice for our little girl.'
Secoriea was one of two dozen people who were shot in Atlanta over the Fourth of July weekend, five of them fatally, including the eight-year-old.
Surveillance video released by GBI shows Rayshard Brooks (circled, right) fleeing towards the right hand side of the image as he is pursued by two officers on June 12
Secoriea's shooting took place near the Wendy's restaurant parking lot where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by a white police officer on June 12. The eatery was burned the next day
In the wake of the shootings, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and authorized the activation of up to 1,000 National Guard troops.
'Peaceful protests were hijacked by criminals with a dangerous, destructive agenda. Now, innocent Georgians are being targeted, shot, and left for dead,' the Republican governor said.
'This lawlessness must be stopped and order restored in our capital city.'
But Mayor Lance Bottoms said Kemp issued his order without asking if the city needed help.
The city had already been coordinating with the Georgia State Patrol, and 'at no time was it mentioned that anyone felt there was a need for the National Guard to come in,' she said on ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday.
A private, invitation-only funeral for Secoriea was planned for Wednesday.
A representative for Tyler Perry said the filmmaker and actor has offered to pay for the service. Perry also offered to pay for Brooks' funeral.
A public viewing is to be held from 9am to 6pm on Tuesday at Murray Brothers Funeral Home in Atlanta.
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