Atlanta, GA
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. (Atlanta News First) — Police are investigating a shooting near an Atlanta park on Sunday night.
Police say a man was shot at 616 Joseph E. Boone Boulevard, which is Rodney Cook Sr. Park in the Vine City neighborhood.
The man’s condition is currently unknown.
This is a developing story. Return to Atlanta News First for updates.
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The Atlanta Falcons are looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017, and they’ll be relying on a new coaching staff to help them get there. But Kevin Stefanski is no rookie; he’s a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, only now he’ll be working with an entirely different group of personnel after coaching in Cleveland since 2020.
In addition to a new coach, the Falcons may have a different starting quarterback as Michael Penix Jr. continues to rehab last season’s torn ACL. He’ll also be competing with Tua Tagovailoa. Together, the Falcons believe they can compete for a playoff spot in the NFC South, but to do so, they’ll need all the help they can get. Unfortunately, the Falcons may not have everyone on hand to start the season.
According to The Athletic‘s Falcons insider Josh Kendall, the NFL is “likely” to suspend edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
Pearce faces three felony charges after an incident with his former girlfriend, WNBA player Rickea Jackson. Pearce’s charges are for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing the police, and resisting arrest with violence.
“Atlanta now appears to be waiting on the NFL to decide on Pearce. Under the league’s personal conduct policy, commissioner Roger Goodell has wide latitude to impose discipline regardless of the outcome of the criminal case. The league is likely to suspend Pearce. Steelers defensive back Cam Sutton was suspended eight games in 2024 after a domestic violence incident that began as a felony charge but was eventually reduced to a misdemeanor. Goodell could also place Pearce on the commissioner’s exempt list, which serves as an indefinite suspension while the league gathers more information.”
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall on James Pearce
Pearce is coming off an excellent rookie season that saw him record a team-high 10.5 sacks while starting three of his 17 appearances. The 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft looks like he’s poised to be a star. Yet, now the 22-year-old may have to wait to start his second NFL season. The question is how long?
If Pearce is forced to miss time, the Falcons will be counting on others, such as fellow 2025 first-round pick Jalon Walker, to make a bigger impact. The 22-year-old Walker recorded 5.5 sacks, making nine sacks in 15 appearances.
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