ATLANTA – A grand jury has indicted a former Atlanta police officer for murder and other counts in the death of an unarmed man.
The Fulton County grand jury on Wednesday indicted James Burns in the June 22 killing of 22-year-old Deravis Caine Rogers.
Burns has been out on bond since his arrest on charges of murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and violation of his oath of office.
Burns was responding to a call about a suspicious person. Prosecutors said Burns fired into Rogers' vehicle, even though Burns wasn't in danger and had no way to identify Rogers as the reported suspicious person.
Atlanta police Chief George Turner fired Burns July 1 after an internal investigation determined Burns used unnecessary and excessive force.
Rogers was black. Burns is white.
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