Judge dismisses lawsuit over fatal shooting of Cop City protester
ATLANTA — A federal judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit against Georgia State Patrol troopers who fatally shot environmental activist Manuel Paez Terán during a raid at the planned police training center site in January 2023.
U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen ruled the shooting was “objectively reasonable” under the circumstances, finding that troopers acted appropriately when they opened fire on the 26-year-old activist known as “Tortuguita.”
The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Terán’s family against the Georgia Department of Public Safety and several individual troopers involved in the January 18, 2023 incident at the South River Forest.
Details of the Fatal Encounter
According to court documents, the shooting occurred during a multi-agency operation to clear protesters from the wooded area designated for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. State patrol troopers encountered Terán in a tent within the forest.
Officials said Terán fired first at the officers, prompting them to return fire. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded that Terán shot and wounded one trooper before being killed by return gunfire.
Judge Cohen determined that the troopers’ use of deadly force was justified given the immediate threat posed to officer safety. The ruling stated that reasonable officers in the same situation would have acted similarly.
Family’s Legal Challenge
Terán’s family argued through their attorneys that the shooting was excessive and unjustified. The lawsuit sought monetary damages and claimed the officers violated Terán’s constitutional rights.
The family’s legal team maintained that questions remained about the circumstances of the shooting and whether deadly force was necessary. They requested a jury trial to examine the facts of the case.
Cohen’s dismissal effectively ends the federal civil rights lawsuit against the state agency and individual officers involved in the operation.
Ongoing ‘Cop City’ Controversy
The shooting occurred amid sustained protests against the proposed $90 million Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, which opponents have dubbed “Cop City.” Environmental activists and community groups have opposed the 85-acre facility planned for the South River Forest.
Protesters have argued the training center would destroy green space and militarize police training. Supporters say the facility is necessary to improve police training and recruitment in Atlanta.
The January 2023 raid was part of law enforcement efforts to remove protesters who had occupied the forest for months. Multiple arrests were made during the operation, with some protesters facing domestic terrorism charges.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation previously found no criminal wrongdoing by the officers involved in Terán’s death. The federal civil lawsuit represented the family’s attempt to seek accountability through the civil court system.
Terán’s death became a rallying point for opponents of the training center project, which remains under construction despite ongoing legal and community opposition.
Sources: Atlanta News First
