Yesterday, police entered a forested area south of Atlanta where the city intends to build a modern police training center. This was a “clearing operation” designed to remove protesters who’ve been occupying the area for about a year. Styling themselves as “forest defenders” the protesters have set up roadblocks, attacked police with rocks and at least one Molotov Cocktail. During the operation yesterday, police said that one of the protesters pulled out a gun and shot a Georgia State Trooper. The officer was wearing a vest but the bullet went under the vest and he had to be taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. Police returned fire and killed the shooter at the scene.

Immediately there were supporters of the “forest defenders” claiming that police had “murdered” the unidentified individual and called for “reciprocal violence” against the police. A Twitter account called Defend the Atlanta Forest which is connected to the protest group claimed the officer had been hit with “friendly fire” and not shot by the protester who was killed.

In the last 24 hours there have been a number of developments. First, police issued a press release last night which included a bit more detail on the shooting:

At about 9:00 a.m. today, as law enforcement was moving through the property, officers located a man inside a tent in the woods. Officers gave verbal commands to the man who did not comply and shot a Georgia State Patrol Trooper. Other law enforcement officers returned fire, hitting the man. Law enforcement evacuated the Trooper to a safe area. The man died on scene. The injured Georgia State Patrol Trooper was taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery. A handgun and shell casings were located at the scene.

Two points worth noting. First police ordered the protester to exit the tent (pictured above) and instead he started shooting. Second and more importantly, police have the gun and shell casings connected to the shooting. That should put an end to the idea that the trooper was hit with friendly fire. Of course all of these people are anti-police protesters so it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried to claim the gun and shell casings were planted. But at least for the moment it looks like the police version of events has evidence to back it up.

Also, today the Atlanta Community Press Collective has released the name of the protester who was killed.

The person killed by police in the forest has been identified to ACPC as Manuel Teran. Manuel was a beloved member of the community. They were generous, running a mutual aid group. In our conversations with those that loved them, two words consistently came up: kind, and fierce.

— Atlanta Community Press Collective (@atlanta_press) January 19, 2023

We have begun receiving memories of Manuel, who also went by Cami. pic.twitter.com/ueDpfvuffl

— Atlanta Community Press Collective (@atlanta_press) January 19, 2023

The actual press release uses a different alias for the person killed yesterday. Also, note the statement at the end:

We are devastated by the loss of our friend who was killed by the police. Tortuguita was a kind, passionate, and loving person, cherished by their community

They spent their time between Atlanta, defending the forest from destruction and coordinating mutual aid for the movement and, and Florida where they helped build housing in low income communities hit hardest by the hurricane. They were a trained medic, a loving partner, a dear friend, a brave soul, and so much more. In Tort’s name, we continue to fight to protect the forest and stop cop city with love, rage, and a commitment to each other’s safety and well-being…

We don’t know what happened yesterday, but we know that the police killed them while they were defending the forest.

The claim of ignorance seems like a backtrack from yesterday’s suggestion that no protester shot a police officer. Here’s a photo included with the press release.

The media demonization of Tortuguita, the forest defender murdered by police yesterday, is going to start in no time.

Read more about them here instead: https://t.co/eCxSkKeIt4 #StopCopCity pic.twitter.com/g7ufc00Qm0

— micah (@micahinATL) January 19, 2023

Last night the group held a vigil for their fallen comrade.

Vigil in Oly for our fallen comrade. @atlanta_press pic.twitter.com/A7W95LO2cj

— Olympia Stand ✊ (@Olystand) January 19, 2023

A local news reporter said there were about 100 people present though other reports said 200.

RIGHT NOW: Nearly one hundred people have gathered in Little Five Points to honor a protester killed during a clearing operation at the planned public safety center for ATL police. A state trooper was injured in the shooting.@ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/N68tLHje2W

— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) January 18, 2023

Some video from last night.

A candlelight vigil now spilling into the street along Moreland in #Atlanta after a protester was shot & killed by GSP troopers this AM at the site of a planned public safety training center.

Police say the protester fired first. The trooper is in the ICU – expected to survive. pic.twitter.com/2MMAGr81Os

— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) January 19, 2023

Forest Defenders marching to the park after blocking traffic at Moreland Avenue at Euclid. They continue to chant ”Stop Cop City.” Some of the group continues to throw bird scooters in the middle of the road impacting traffic. @11AliveNews pic.twitter.com/BpJQ1IL39b

— Cody Alcorn (@CodyAlcorn) January 19, 2023

There were similar vigils in other cities including Portland:

Vigil in solidarity with Atlanta tonight in Portland.

Rest in Power 🖤 Solidarity with forest and land defenders everywhere pic.twitter.com/o0NEudi59h

— alissa azar (@AlissaAzar) January 19, 2023

This sign was put up in West LA:

Greetings! An impromptu vigil has been constructed in West LA for a protester who was fatally shot by LEOs.

One “Cop City” protester was fatally shot and a Georgia state trooper was wounded near the site of “Cop City,” a proposed law enforcement training center near Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/o6Tp5PhEsX

— Sean Beckner-Carmitchel (@ACatWithNews) January 19, 2023

Finally, one of the Twitter accounts that was promoting “reciprocal violence” against police yesterday has been suspended. You can read the text of the original tweet in yesterday’s story. A website with the same name as the suspended account, “Scenes from the Atlanta Forest,” is still up and still contains the same call for violence.

A related site, Defend the Atlanta Forest has an FAQ including a statement about the movement’s stand on violence.

Is this movement violent?

When authorities feel threatened, they always claim to “fear for their lives.” Controlling public opinion and legislation allows the government to decry every form of effective resistance, from sit-ins, to strikes, to interruptions, to encampments, and beyond as a form of “violence.” We prefer to cut straight to the chase: no one has been harmed by participants in this movement.

Looks like the FAQ could use an update.

Update: I really thought they were backing away from this but maybe not. This was posted just a few minutes ago. In the 2nd tweet below “The story that Tort had a gun and would’ve used it is completely unimaginable to the friend.”

"A close friend is telling me that Tort was thoughtful enough to bring them a gift after only having talked with them a few times. And that Tort was a competent organizer. The story that Tort had a gun and would've used it was completely unimaginable to the friend." pic.twitter.com/j6QNWkcyRP

— Defend the Atlanta Forest (@defendATLforest) January 19, 2023

Granted they’re not saying it didn’t happen, they’re just suggesting it doesn’t seem right. But somebody shot a police officer using a gun found at the scene. Who was that? If the “forest defenders” have evidence that something else happened they should offer it up. If they don’t they should admit what happened.

And one more update. The GA state trooper who was shot in this incident will undergo another surgery today.

GSP commander Col. Chris Wright said the trooper remains in the intensive care unit and is stable, but will undergo another surgery today…

“Overnight last night, he was able to write a short note to the doctor to tell him he was having difficulty breathing,” Wright said. “He’s scheduled for another surgery today.”

Hopefully he’ll recover but it sounds like it could be a while.