Georgia Prosecutor Declares No Charges to be Brought Against State Troopers in Fatal Shooting of Environmental Activist Protesting Cop City.

A Georgia prosecutor announced Friday that no charges will be brought against the state troopers who fatally shot an environmental activist while protesting the planned construction of a police training center outside of Atlanta.

Manuel Teran, 26, was shot 57 times by police in January while protesting the intended site of the new training facility, dubbed “Cop City” by critics. Authorities said Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, an environmental activist who went by the name Tortuguita, died at the scene, and a state trooper was injured with a gunshot wound.

Opponents of the center had camped out at an 85-acre tract of forest that is being developed for the massive facility. Along with the statement announcing his decision, Christian released a 31-page report detailing his analysis.

In his report, Christian concluded that the use of deadly force by the state troopers was “objectively reasonable” and that no criminal charges should be brought against them. He noted that the troopers had been responding to reports of gunfire at the site and that Teran had been armed with a gun.

The decision not to bring charges against the troopers has been met with criticism from activists and civil rights groups, who have called for an independent investigation into the incident. They argue that the troopers’ use of deadly force was excessive and unnecessary.