On Monday April 23, 2012 Walter Folds, aka Wayne, was shoot and killed by the Griffin Police Department at 9:15 am, in Thomaston Mills Park, behind Gospel Tabernacle Church on North 9th Street in Griffin, Ga.
Griffin police officers came across Mr. Folds, in the park, and stated that he ran into the woods and officers pursued him. Mr. Folds was cutting himself in the abdomen with a box cutter. The altercation began when the Griffin police officer caught up with Folds.
The first report made by the Griffin Police, stated that the Griffin officer and Mr. Folds were in an altercation. Mr. Folds was cutting himself and cut the officer in the face. It was stated that the Griffin police officer shot Mr. Folds in self-defense.
Mr. Folds was shot in the right side of his head, in the back, at close range, execution style. When the officer and the suspect were involved in the altercation, whether the suspect is on top or on the bottom, the officer cannot shoot the suspect in the back of the neck and consider that to be self- defense. Mr. Folds may have done wrong, but, that does not give the officer the right to kill anyone, at point blank range, and in the back of the head.
The family of Walter Folds wants to know why a gun had to be used in self-defense. Wasn’t the officer supposed to use his taser first?
Why didn’t the officer use the taser first? The reason for the taser is to reduce injuries to both suspects and officers. The family feels that Folds was” Unjustifiably Shot” and we would like justice for his murder.
It would be useful to find a local civil rights attorney with experience in these type of cases. That would be the best person to advise you. Good Luck
Joshua Mark GellerCriminal Defense AttorneyAtlanta, GA ·
I'm sorry for the loss of your family member. Generally speaking, when anyone is attacked with a deadly weapon they can respond with deadly force. You can defend yourself with the amount of force used against you. So, if someone punches you, generally you can only punch back. However, I would advise to turn the other cheek if possible.
The District Attorney in Griffin is definitely reviewing your case as they are required to investigate officer involved shootings. I believe you should contact a civil rights attorney as well to discuss how to approach the case with the District Attorney.
Douglas Brooks RohanWorkers' Compensation LawyerAtlanta, GA ·
I agree with the other attorney that the DA's office is the first place to start with this matter. Once there is a finding that a criminal case exists, your chance for a successful civil suit increase dramatically.
Sorry for your loss. Don't expect much from the local
D.A. in investigating this shooting. Usually the D.A,
Prosecutor and Police Review Board generally just
"rubber stamp" these as a "JUSTIFIABLE SHOOTING."
Very rarely will a cop go down on one of these types
of shootings. Self defense or the "I feared for my
life" is the standard defense for the cop that kills
someone in a scuffle. The fact that your uncle was
"cutting himself in the abdomen with a box cutter"
says that he was somehow despondent, mentally
disturbed, or perhaps intoxicated. Did he commit
suicide by cop? Did the cop act criminally? These
are facts that would come out with a proper investigation
-OR- civil lawsuit. ---You should seek the advice of a
local civil rights attorney. Good luck to you and your
family.
