A Georgia State soldier was shot dead by a protester at the site of a proposed police training facility outside of Atlanta on Wednesday morning.
Authorities say the soldier was helping conduct a “clearance operation” at the DeKalb County compound when a protester opened fire. Officers fired back and the unnamed man was pronounced dead at the scene, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The Soldier, who has not yet been named, underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon and was in stable condition, Georgia State Patrol Colonel Chris Wright said at a news conference outside Grady Memorial Hospital.
The shooting is just the latest in a series of altercations that have erupted at the site of the $90 million project in recent weeks.
Extremists calling themselves “forest defenders” have previously thrown rocks and Molotov cocktails at police officers and contractors on the site. And just last month, five Antifa members were arrested on domestic terrorism charges for their role in the ongoing chaos.
Another protester was also arrested at the site after Wednesday’s shooting.
Georgia State Troopers remained at the scene of a proposed Atlanta police training center after an officer was shot dead by an unnamed protester Wednesday morning
It comes just a month after five Antifa members were arrested for assaulting police officers at the compound
Protesters argue the proposed training facility represents an increasingly militarized Atlanta police force and say forest destruction will worsen climate change and lead to more pollution.
The proposal would clip 381 acres of Weelaunee Forest currently owned by the state.
But protesters have become increasingly violent in recent weeks, destroying property, committing arson and even attacking local and government officials.
Things seemed to come to a head last month when five Antifa members were arrested and charged with terrorism.
Authorities said at the time Serena Hertel, 25, of California, Nicholas Olson, 25, of Nebraska, Francis Carroll, 22, of Maine, Arieon Robinson, 22, of Wisconsin, and Leonardo Vioselle, 20, of Macon, Georgia involved in the riots – attacking the police and other emergency services workers with stones and bottles.
After officers cleared the area, they also found bombs, flares, and gasoline.
Other crimes were also reported when the local fire brigade was called to set fire to a dumpster.
Richard Porter told WXIA that members of the group threw things at him, including a “gas bomb”. He escaped, leaving his burned-out truck behind. Porter told the broadcaster: “It seemed to me that they were going to burn the truck with me in it.”
Vioselle is the only member of the group who is from the area where the public security center is being built. Authorities used tear gas and pepper balls to force the protesters away from the scene.
Serena Hertel was charged with trespassing, domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, obstruction and inciting a riot
Arieon Robinson (left) was charged with criminal trespassing, obstruction and domestic terrorism while Leonard Vioselle (right) was charged with criminal trespassing, domestic terrorism and possession of tools of the crime
Nicholas Olsen (left) was charged with domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, encroachment on government property and obstruction. Francis Carroll (right) was charged with trespassing, domestic terrorism, aggravated assault, criminal obstruction, tampering with government property and possession of tools used to commit the crime
On the day of the arrests, the Atlanta Community Press Collective tweeted: “Tree sitters report being surrounded and being tear-gassed by police.”
While a representative of a group supporting the protest told the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, AJC that those arrested were “legitimate political protesters.”
Marlon Kautz continued: “There is clear evidence to the contrary that the people who arrested, targeted and attacked them engaged in nothing but peaceful civil disobedience.”
A representative from another group, Community Movement Builder, told the newspaper: “I think there are forest defenders who will continue to defend the forest. That means civil disobedience, that means rallies, demonstrations. That means all the tactics we can use.’
The group said dozens of police officers and undercover officers appeared at the scene. After the initial arrest, officers began “coming through the woods to free each and every one,” a local officer told AJC.
Since then, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, police have conducted “almost daily patrols and drone surveillance” of the site.
State police officers kept their guns trained on the forest after Wednesday morning’s shooting
Details about Wednesday morning’s shooting remain scarce as authorities remained at the scene
Details about Wednesday morning’s shooting remain scarce as authorities remained at the scene.
Officers say only that a protester started shooting at officers, who then fired back in self-defense. The protester, who was also not named, was killed by return fire.
They were later seen by a reporter from WSB-TV with guns drawn and pointed at the forest.
Following this, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens prayed for the wounded officer, tweeting, “My team and APD fully support our state and county partners in securing the DeKalb County site and investigating the incident.”
And Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who previously labeled the protesters “terrorists,” also offered his prayers to law enforcement officials.
“While our thoughts remain with him and his family, our resolve remains steadfast and strong to ensure criminals are brought to justice.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said they would pray for the wounded officer, who underwent surgery in the afternoon. He is said to be in stable condition
But protesters with Stop Cop City ATL told FOX 5 Atlanta “it’s not clear” if the officer was injured by “police fire, a protester, or actions caused by police.”
And in a statement, the protesters claimed, “Dozens of heavily armed officers from DeKalb, Atlanta and Georgia State Police closed Weelaunee People’s Park and surrounding roads before proceeding, guns drawn and heavy machinery ready to continue the forest destruction.” enter tree line”.
They said: “Police have repeatedly raided this public park, leveled community gardens and art installations, attacked protesters with chemical weapons and rubber bullets.”
The protesters also said that “the operation has continued this morning” since the deadly shootout with “heavy machinery entering the forest and police officers firing pepper balls at people who remain in the park as if nothing happened.”
“No one can bring our friend back to us,” they said. “An innocent life has been taken and the machines keep running.”