Dashcam Video Questions Georgia Trooper's Shooting Actions

Newly released dashcam footage from an August 2020 police shooting has raised significant questions about the actions of Georgia State Trooper Jake Thompson, who fatally shot 60-year-old Julian Lewis. The pursuit began over a broken taillight and ended with Thompson forcing Lewis's car into a ditch and shooting him in the forehead. Thompson claimed he fired because Lewis was attempting to run him over, but investigative reports and use-of-force experts dispute this, noting that Lewis's car was immobilized. Despite being fired and initially charged with murder, Thompson was not indicted by a grand jury and avoided prosecution with a promise never to work in law enforcement again. The footage, which had not been made public until recently, was shared by the authors of a book on racial and economic inequality, who obtained it under Georgia's open-records law. Experts criticize Thompson's rapid escalation and insufficient time given for Lewis to comply with commands before being shot.