Atlanta, GA

Buckhead steakhouse 2022 shooting: APD defends response at family, friends protests

Published

2 years ago

June 15, 2024

Buckhead steakhouse 2022 shooting: APD defends response at family, friends protests

Family, friends of Nygil Cullins protest APD video

Protesters, including Cullins’ family, friends, and supporters, gathered outside the Fogo de Chão restaurant on Friday, briefly blocking traffic on Piedmont Road.

ATLANTA – The family and friends of Nygil Cullins gathered outside the Buckhead restaurant where he was killed by Atlanta police in 2022. The demonstration comes days after the Atlanta Police Department released the 911 calls and surveillance video from the incident.

Protesters, including Cullins’ family, friends, and supporters, gathered outside the Fogo de Chão restaurant on Friday, briefly blocking traffic on Piedmont Road. Chanting “Justice for Nygil Cullins,” they demanded accountability for his death.

The body cam footage shows Cullins raising his hands when first confronted by the police. According to his family, police unnecessarily escalated the situation by using a Taser on Cullins after he went to the ground. The footage was released two years after the incident.

During a virtual press conference earlier in the day, Fox 5 asked APD Chief Darin Schierbaum if the officers acted according to their training and protocols. Schierbaum responded, “This is a very chaotic situation with an erratic individual with a handgun in a restaurant. We have reviewed it beginning to end and we see that everything was, in fact, appropriate from our vantage point.”

Atlanta police chief on Nygil Cullins shooting

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum is standing by his officers after a deadly encounter at a Brazilian steakhouse in Buckhead in 2022. Family of Nygil Cullins say he was suffering from a mental health episode and say the use of a Taser escalated the situation leading to his death. The chief held a press conference on June 14, 2024 to give his take on the video.

APD presented a slowed-down version of the video, which appears to show Cullins reaching for his gun before being tased. The video also shows that after Cullins shot a security guard who had tackled him, officers shot Cullins again when he appeared to reach for his gun a second time.

However, Cullins’ mother, Mya Cullins, believes the police escalated the situation and created the danger. She stated, “It’s discouraging, it’s sickening, and something needs to happen,” noting that her son was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time.

Cullins’ attorney James Howard agreed, saying, “the problem is [police] can create the danger…they can either deescalate the situation…or they can escalate the situation, make the person cornered, make the person scared.”

The family alleges that the body cam footage was released only because they are suing the city in federal court. Chief Schierbaum denied this, saying, “This was not related to the lawsuit being filed.”

When asked then why APD waited two years to release the video, Schierbaum said, “Very recently, we entered into an agreement with the two coal investigative entities, which is the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, as well as the district attorney’s office for a 60 day review. Moving forward, that agreement obviously was not in play in 2022.”

Despite the justification given by APD, the family remains unconvinced and plans to continue their protests, seeking further accountability for the shooting.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Mya Cullins said.

Fogo de Chão deadly shooting video released

In the video, Cullins can be seen at the bar of Fogo De Chao in Buckhead on May 18, 2022, where he used to work. At one point, Cullins grabs a bottle of liquor from the bar.

“We have a guy in here with a gun, and he’s acting very, very weird,” a 911 caller said.

“He did not point the gun, but he’s yelling at everybody,” the caller added in a second call.

Twenty-six minutes after the initial 911 call, officers responded. APD edited the video with a red circle emphasizing Cullins with the gun. The video shows officers using Tasers on Cullins. He runs, and grabs what police say is that gun. When a security guard tackles him, police say Cullins shot and wounded the guard.

READ MORE ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THE VIDEO, 911 CALL

Nygil Cullins, Fogo de Chao bodycam footage released

Nygil Cullins’ parents asked for the release of Atlanta Police body camera footage that shows their son’s death at Fogo de Chao in Buckhead. Warning: The footage you are about to see may be sensitive to some audiences.

“You see him tackled, you see the gun discharge, you don’t see who discharged it,” Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs said.

Police then opened fire. Ten gunshots can be heard and then a pause before five more are fired.

PREVIOUS STORY: Parents of man shot, killed by Atlanta police at Buckhead restaurant demand justice

“All they had to do was go over and talk to him. They just came in there and forcibly tried to get him,” Quinten said.

“It’s disgusting that they would sit and paint a picture that’s still not true. A lot of the things in their initial narrative does not equate to what we saw,” Nygil’s mother, Mya Cullins, added.

Nygil Cullins wrongful death lawsuit

Last month, Cullins’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, restaurant, and others for Nygil’s death.

Family reacts to steakhouse shooting video release

The family of Nygil Cullins is speaking out for the first time after the release of camera footage of the moment he was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer in 2022.

Nygil’s mother said he was suffering from mental health issues, and she had a facility for him to get help, but the transport they arraigned that night showed up too late.

“How did we get to the point where Nygil is being tackled by security, how did we get to the point where he’s being tazed when he didn’t do anything wrong and now, he’s scared, and he believes he’s running for his life,” Cullins family Attorney Leif Howard explained.

PREVIOUS STORY: Family of man killed by Atlanta police at Buckhead restaurant file lawsuit

The Fulton County District Attorney’s office will be the one to determine if charges will be filed. Atlanta police confirm the officers involved in this incident are still active employees with the Atlanta Police Department.

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Atlanta, GA

Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train near Oakland City Station; riders question transit safety as World Cup nears

Published

1 hour ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Woman fatally stabbed on MARTA train near Oakland City Station; riders question transit safety as World Cup nears

A man accused of fatally stabbing a woman aboard a MARTA train is now in custody, as the violent attack raises new concerns about safety across Atlanta’s transit system.

According to police, 52-year-old Margaret Swan was riding a MARTA train near the Oakland City Station on May 30 when she was stabbed to death.

Investigators say officers quickly arrested the suspect, identified as John Elijah Matthews, at the station shortly after the attack.

Swan’s ex-husband, Jerry Swan, said he was devastated when his daughter called to tell him what happened.

“I was happy they caught him, but in my mind the thought was why did he do that to such a nice person,” he said.

Jerry Swan described Margaret as a devoted grandmother who loved spending time with her family.

“She was on her way to keep one of her grandbabies when it happened,” he said.

Marta.

Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The deadly stabbing has also left some MARTA riders uneasy about safety on the transit system.

Nahsar Alexander, who says he rides MARTA every day, told CBS News Atlanta the attack is alarming.

“That was an innocent lady,” Alexander said. “If she didn’t do anything, what’s stopping someone from hurting me?”

MARTA officials say nearly 300 officers are assigned throughout the transit system to help keep riders safe. Additional officers were visible Monday at stations, including patrols on motorcycles.

The agency says security measures are also expected to increase ahead of the FIFA World Cup, when Atlanta is expected to see a major influx of visitors.

MARTA says its current security resources include more than 12,000 cameras across rail stations, buses and railcars, along with a Real Time Crime Center monitored during operating hours. Officials also say undercover officers regularly patrol stations, buses and trains.

Ahead of the World Cup, MARTA plans to activate its Emergency Operations Center during matches and fan events, deploy its Mobile Command Vehicle at key locations and partner with outsidxe law enforcement agencies for additional support.

Officials say additional train patrols and crowd control teams will also be used throughout the system.

Some riders say the increased police presence is reassuring, but concerns remain.

“Yes, but even with more police officers crime is still going to happen,” Alexander said.

Matthews is facing a murder charge.

MARTA says all staff not directly involved in operations or policing will also serve as Transit Ambassadors during the World Cup to assist riders and monitor activity across the system.

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Raccoon tests positive for rabies after attacking dog in metro Atlanta

Published

12 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Raccoon tests positive for rabies after attacking dog in metro Atlanta

June 1, 2026 / 12:11 PM EDT
/ CBS Atlanta

Gwinnett County officials are warning residents to use caution after a raccoon tested positive for rabies over the weekend.

Officials say the raccoon attacked a dog near Biltmore Oaks Drive in the Bethlehem area on May 26.

Testing revealed that the animal was infected with the potentially deadly virus.

The disease, which can be transmitted through bites and scratches from infected animals, is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms occur. Those symptoms include muscle aches, fever, vomiting, and general weakness and discomfort.

The National Association of State Health Veterinarians says all unvaccinated dogs and cats exposed to a rabid animal need to be quarantined for four months and vaccinated one month before being released.

Georgia is a rabies-endemic state, which means the virus can be found in wildlife year-round. Officials say that means it’s important for residents to make sure their pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations and avoid animals that may be behaving in unusual ways. Earlier in May, a DeKalb County raccoon tested positive for rabies.

If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medial care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure. After that, contact GNR Public Health at (770) 339-4260 and ask for the on-call epidemiologist.

To report an animal behaving in an unusual way, call the Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement Bite Office at (770) 339-3200, ext. 5576.

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Jackets Fall to Sooners in Game 6 of Atlanta Regional

Published

22 hours ago

June 1, 2026

Press Room

Jackets Fall to Sooners in Game 6 of Atlanta Regional

THE FLATS – No. 2 Georgia Tech baseball (50-10) dropped its first game of the NCAA Atlanta Regional on Sunday night, falling 15-8 to Oklahoma. The Yellow Jackets saw four home runs in the outing and jumped out with the early lead, but the Sooners overcame the deficit to force game seven on Monday.

Georgia Tech plated its first two batters of the game as Carson Kerce drew a 4-0 leadoff walk and Drew Burress sent his at bat 397 feet deep to left field, putting Tech up 2-0 in the first and forcing Oklahoma to make a call to the bullpen early.

The Sooners tied the game at 2-2 off a two-run home run from Brendan Brock in the bottom of the second, but a five-spot from the Jackets in the fifth returned the lead to Tech. A bases loaded wild pitch scored Kerce and setup a two-run RBI single up the middle from Ryan Zuckerman for a 5-2 lead. Alex Hernandez found his fourth home run of the regional in the next at bat, clearing the bases and putting Tech in front, 8-2.

Jarren Advincula cushioned Tech’s lead with a sac fly in the fourth, scoring Kerce for a 9-2 lead, but Oklahoma erased its deficit and took the lead with an eight-run fourth inning for a 10-8 edge. The Sooners would add another five runs for the final score.

Georgia Tech and Oklahoma will meet in the rubbermatch on Monday for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is set for 3 pm and television designation will be announced soon.

QUICK HITS: TEAM

GT will face Oklahoma again, tomorrow at 3 pm in a winner-take-all game seven of the Atlanta Regional.
This is the 5^th time in program history the Jackets will be playing in a 2-1 vs 2-1 game after starting the regional 2-0, GT is 2-2 in such games (wins in 1994 and 2005 / losses in 2008 and 2010).
The Jackets fall to 50-10, the best 60-game record in program history, two games better than the previous record (48-12 – 1987).
The Jackets will be looking to advance to the Super Regional round for the sixth time in program history and the first since 2006.
GT is now 3-2 against the SEC this season with wins over Auburn, Georgia and Oklahoma.
The Jackets are outscoring SEC opponents 46-35 this season.
Tech has scored 655 runs this season, the most runs scored through 60 games in program history and the most scored by any Power 4 team through 60 games in the BBCOR era.
GT’s 655 runs are the second-most in school history, seven behind the program record set back in 1987 (662). The Jackets are two runs away from setting a new NCAA record for runs in a single season in the BBCOR era – a record currently held by Tennessee (657 runs in 73 games in 2024).
The Jackets hit two home runs today, bringing the regional total to 12 and the season total of 137 – 15 more than the previous program record set back in 2010.
Tech has hit multiple home runs in all three regional games this season and 15 of their last 16 games dating back to April 28.
GT is outscoring its opponents 655-297 this season. The plus-358 margin is the largest in Division I this season and the largest in program history.
Tech’s offense is currently on pace to set program records in batting average (.357 – record is .347), on-base percentage (.468 – record is .434), slugging percentage (.640 – record is .575) and runs-per-game (10.9 – record is 10.3).
The offense has scored eight or more runs in each of the last 14 games dating back to May 3.
The Yellow Jackets are closing in on multiple NCAA records for a single season: two runs away from the BBCOR era record (Tennessee – 657 – 73 games in 2024), 19 hits away from the BBCOR era record (Vanderbilt – 770 – 71 games in 2019) and 18 doubles away from the BBCOR era record (Morehead St. / Virginia – 172 – 2015 / 2023) and 30 walks away from the BBCOR era record (Wake Forest – 424 – 66 games in 2023).
Tech’s .357 average would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .359 by Austin Peay in 2024).
Tech’s .468 OBP would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .469 by New Mexico State in 2019).
Tech’s .640 slugging percentage would be a new BBCOR era Power 4 record (NCAA record is .661 by Austin Peay in 2024).
GT pitching struck out 10 batters, marking the 26th game with at least 10 Ks this season.

QUICK HITS: THE BATS

Junior Drew Burress extended his on-base streak to 23 games with a 3-for-5 showing. He hit a two-run home run to open the scoring in the first inning, his program record 59^th career homer.
Burress becomes the first Power conference player of the 21^st century to deliver 40 extra base hits in three consecutive seasons (43 in 2024, 43 in 2025 and 40 in 2026). He is just the second Division I player to do so this century, also DJ Peterson (New Mexico) 2011-13.
Buress has hit 15 home runs this season, becoming just the second Yellow Jacket in program history to deliver three consecutive 15 HR seasons, along with Tony Plagman (2008-10).
He has now scored 231 runs in his career, the most of any active DI player and just one away from tying Darren Bragg (1988-91) for the fourth most in program history.
Burress holds the GT BBCOR era records for the most runs (231), RBI (187), doubles (61), home runs (59) and total bases (499). He is one base away from becoming just the fourth Jacket to ever collect 500 total bases – also Andy Bruce (506: 1988-91), Tony Plagman (513: 2007-10) and Jason Varitek (610: 1991-94).
His 187 RBI rank 12^th all-time at Georgia Tech, seven shy of cracking the Top 10.
Sophomore Alex Hernandez continued his exceptional regional, hitting a two-run home run as a part of Tech’s five-run third inning.
It was his fourth HR of the regional and 13^th of the season. Nearly two-thirds of his home runs this season (30.8 %) have come in the last three games of regional play.
Hernandez has recorded 19 RBI in his last six games, producing at least one in all six postseason games to this point.
He has now produced 21 RBI in six career NCAA tournament games – 3.5 per game.
He is up to 57 RBI this season and 126 over his career: the fourth highest RBI total by an undergraduate in GT history behind only Burress (129), Matt Weiters (139) and Mark Teixeira (program record – 145).
Junior Carson Kerce scored three runs in the leadoff spot, tying his season high for the fifth time. He has scored multiple runs in 18 games this season, the fifth most on the team.
Junior Ryan Zuckerman delivered a pair of RBI today, taking over the team lead with 79 RBI this season, the 11^th most in program history.
Zuckerman (79) and Vahn Lackey (78) are inching closer to becoming just the third duo in GT history to drive in 80 RBI in the same season, currently only accomplished by Jason Basil (83) and Mark Teixeira (80) in 2000 and Riccardo Ingram (99) and Mike Fowler (87) in 1987.
Lackey scored his team leading 85^th run of the season tonight, his 85 runs scored are the 6^th most in program history for a single season and the most recorded since Mark Teixeira set the program record (104) back in 2000.
Junior Jarren Advincula extended his hitting streak to a career best 28 games, tied with Carlton Fleming (1990) for the 2nd longest in program history and the longest since Victor Menocal set the record (30) in 2002.
He has delivered 108 hits this season, the fourth most in program history and the most since 2000 (Richard Lewis – 109).
He has gotten a hit in 43 of his last 44 games dating back to March 10 and 56 of 60 games overall this season.
His batting average now stands at .430, the highest in Power 4, the 2nd best in the nation and the 7th highest in program history. It’s the second highest batting average by a Yellow Jacket this century and the highest since Chandler Simpson hit .433 in 2022.

QUICK HITS: THE ARMS

Sophomore Jackson Blakely made his 13^th start of the season, pitching 3.0 innings before running into trouble in the fourth.
This loss snapped a 10-game winning streak in games started by Blakely this season, bringing the teams record to 10-3.
His ERA is now 3.36 over 64.1 innings of work with 69 strikeouts – all the 2^nd best on the team.
Freshman Cooper Underwood made his 13^th appearance of the season and his seventh out of the bullpen. He would give up one earned run on a solo home run. This was only the second time he has allowed a run in his seven relief appearances.
Senior Brett Barfield produced a scoreless fifth inning in his 23^rd appearance of the season. That lowered his ERA to 4.70 for the season over 23.0 innings of work.

Up Next

Georgia Tech and Oklahoma will meet in the rubbermatch on Monday for a spot in the NCAA Super Regional. First pitch is set for 3 pm and television designation will be announced soon.

Full Steam Ahead

Full Steam Ahead is a $500 million fundraising initiative to achieve Georgia Tech athletics’ goal of competing for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. The initiative will fund transformative projects for Tech athletics, including renovations of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field (the historic home of Georgia Tech football), the Zelnak Basketball Center (the practice and training facility for Tech basketball) and O’Keefe Gymnasium (the venerable home of Yellow Jackets volleyball), as well as additional projects and initiatives to further advance Georgia Tech athletics through program wide-operational support. All members of the Georgia Tech community are invited to visit atfund.org/FullSteamAhead for full details and renderings of the renovation projects, as well as to learn about opportunities to contribute online.

For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on X (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.

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