Atlanta Man Avoids Jail Time After Setting Fire to Wendy’s Where Rayshard Brooks Was Killed By Cops

Chisom Kingston has now gradujated from college. We hope he stays on track.

An Atlanta man will not face jail time after being found guilty of arson at a Wendy’s in the city. Chisom Kingston, 23, committed the act in light of the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, which occurred at the fast food location in June 2020.

Due to the restaurant being destroyed, Kingston was sentenced to five years probation on Dec. 5, in addition to paying a $150 fine and having to do 150 hours of community service. Kingston admitted to committing the act and that Brooks’ murder at the hands of law enforcement one day before the incident was the catalyst.

Brooks was killed at the restaurant by former Atlanta police officers Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan. On the night of June 12, 2020, Brooks was asleep behind the wheel of the drive-through line until the officers approached his vehicle. After failing a sobriety test, Brooks resisted arrest, prompting an altercation with the police and him running away with a stun gun.

Brooks was shot in the back by Rolfe as he pointed the nonfatal weapon at the officers.

The murder occurred during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, leading a crowd to flood the streets to express their frustration with another instance of police brutality.

“While some have done their best to portray Chisom Kingston as an unhinged boogeyman to help them advance some their own agendas, that’s disgusting, it’s irresponsible, and it’s just not who he is,” said his attorney, Khalil Eaddy, in a statement. “This is a good young man committed to his family and his community. Since that night three years ago, he’s not only graduated from Georgia State University with plans to begin graduate school. He has kept the faith with our courts and with justice itself.”

Last year, the Atlanta City Council gave $1 million to Brooks’ widow as part of a settlement for his death, The Atlanta Black Star reported.