ATLANTA -- The father of a 22-year-old unarmed man gunned down by an Atlanta police officer outside a midtown apartment complex spoke exclusively with 11Alive News Friday afternoon.
"He was young, he had dreams and aspirations. He had dreams and goals. I was proud of him, and I am still proud of him," said Thomas Rogers, the father of Deravis Caine Rogers.
Rogers had just started a new warehouse job the day he was shot to death outside a midtown Atlanta apartment complex on June 22.
"He was so excited. He laughed and I told him I was proud of him," the elder Rogers said.
The younger Rogers was shot to death by Atlanta Police Officer James Burns, who claimed he thought Rogers was might be involved in a foot chase by an off-duty officer working at the Monroe Place Apartments.
An APD Internal Affairs investigation determined Burns used excessive force when he fired into the passenger side of Rogers' vehicle, and also determined Burns had no reason to believe the 22-year-old had been involved in a crime.
Thomas Rogers' attorney Wanda Watkins says she is happy the report clears the younger Rogers of any crime, but says it is only a first step.
"The officer needs to be prosecuted," she said. "He needs to go to prison."
Burns has since been fired by the Atlanta Police Department. Rogers' family plans to file a civil lawsuit against Burns and the APD in connection with the case.
