Rayshard Brooks 'was member of the Bloods' and his death in police shooting sparked gang takeover of 'autonomous zone' where eight-year-old girl was shot dead, warrant claims

Rayshard Brooks, who was shot dead outside of a Wendy's by an Atlanta cop in June 2020, was allegedly a Bloods gang member and his death sparked the gang's takeover of a section of the city's downtown, according to an arrest warrant

The gang operated the area around the burnt-out restaurant under the guise of 'peaceful protestors' in an 'autonomous zone' and set up illegal barriers. 

They wouldn't let police or anyone else in, officials say.

About a month later - on July 4, 2020 - rising third-grader Secoriea Turner, 8, was shot dead when her mom drove up to a barricade at the edge of the gang-run area and was shot at multiple times.

Julian Conley, 19, and Jerrion McKinney, 23, were allegedly guarding the zone at the time, and police said Conley opened fire with an AR-15, striking the young girl in the head.

The details of Brooks' alleged gang affiliation was revealed in an arrest warrant for McKinney, which was obtained by The Atlantic Journal-Constitution .  

This new information comes to light more than a year after Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe, 27, fatally shot Brooks, 27, twice in the back as he ran from police during an arrest outside the Wendy's on June 12, 2020. 

The white cop's shooting of a black man in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder sparked outrage and protests in the community. 

Bloods members seized the opportunity to take control of the area around the Wendy's by 'brandishing, pointing and discharging of firearms at citizens and civilians to ensure compliance with their authority in a highly visible manner,' the warrant says. 

Rayshard Brooks, pictured here five months before his June 2020 death at the hands of an Atlanta police officer, is alleged to be a Bloods gang members. His family's lawyers have denied this 

After Brooks' death, the Bloods gang set up illegal barriers to mark the Rayshard Brooks autonomous zone 

A man armed with a rifle stands guard at the memorial that grew around the Wendy's restaurant that was set on fire after Rayshard Brooks was killed, on June 16, 2020

Turner, 8, was a rising third grader in Atlanta before she was killed 

Conley turned himself in just weeks after Turner's death.   

The Georgia Bureau Investigation joined the investigation on June 11 of this year, secured an arrest warrant for McKinney.

He was arrested on Wednesday and charged with murder, four counts of aggravated assault, pointing a gun or pistol at another, and 12 gang-related offenses. 

DailyMail.com filed a Freedom of Information request for the Fulton County warrant. 

The Brooks family's lawyers Chris Stewart and Justin Miller said in a statement that the family has 'no knowledge or information regarding any alleged gang affiliation of Rayshard Brooks.'

'Our goal from the beginning was to ensure that Mr. Brooks' family got the answers they deserved as it relates to why he was shot in the back and killed by an Atlanta police officer when he was nearly 20 feet away and running in the opposite direction,' the attorneys said in a statement. 

'We will continue to pursue justice for Mr. Brooks with the goal that no other family suffer a similar tragedy. Our prayers are also with the family of Secoriea Turner as they continue to grieve and seek justice for their precious child.' 

Jerrion McKinney, 23, and Julian Conley, 19, are charged in connection with the gang-related shooting death of eight-year Secoriera Turner in Atlanta on July 4, 2020

Secoriea Turner, 8, was fatally shot in Atlanta on July 4, 2020. Police say she was killed by a gang memberafter they set up an 'autonomous zone' following Rayshard Brooks' death at the hands of a white Atlanta cop in June 2020 

Atlanta Police Officer Rolfe was originally called to the Wendy's last June when Brooks fell asleep at the wheel in the drive thru.   

Bodycam and dashcam footage shows the officers arriving on the scene to find the black father-of-four asleep.  

The cops and Brooks are seen in the footage having a calm conversation for more than 40 minutes with Brooks initially cooperating with officers.    

When Brooks failed a sobriety test and the officers tried to arrest him, a scuffle broke out and Brooks grabbed one of the officer's Tasers and ran off.

He was shot twice by Rolfe, with the officer claiming Brooks turned to fire the Taser in his direction.  

Brooks was pronounced dead in a nearby hospital soon after.  

An autopsy found he was shot twice in the back.   

Bodycam footage of Rolfe left and Brooks right above. The Atlanta Civil Service Board announced its decision to reverse the termination of Rofle's employment with the force in May

A man holds a gun as protesters block the road next to a burned Wendy's restaurant on the fourth day following Rayshard Brooks' shooting death by police in the restaurant parking lot, June 16, 2020

Rolfe was fired five days later, but The Atlanta Civil Service Board reversed the decision in May, saying the Atlanta cop was 'not afforded his right to due process'. 

Instead, Rolfe was put on administrative leave because the terms of his bond mean he is banned from possessing a firearm or being around other police officers. 

Rolfe, a six-year police veteran, was hit with 11 charges in connection with Brooks' death, including murder.  

Atlanta Police Officer Garrett Rolfe, 27, fatally shot Brooks, 27, twice in the back as he ran from police during an arrest outside a Wendy's on June 12, 2020

Rolfe and his legal team have repeatedly challenged the investigation into Brooks' death, including lodging the appeal over his firing, filing a lawsuit against the mayor and police chief and calling for the first district attorney who was prosecuting his case to be removed.  

No date has yet been given for Rolfe's murder trial, as the case is currently embroiled in a legal limbo.   

Then-Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard brought the charges against the officers less than five days after the killing.  

Fani Willis then took office as DA in January and sought to recuse her office from the case, citing her predecessor's mishandling of the investigation.

But her recusal was denied by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, leaving the case up in the air with no prosecutor and awaiting a judge's decision to decide on the next steps.   

Brooks' death came less than a month after George Floyd was murdered. The result of mostly peaceful protests that were overshadowed by violent protestors, who torched the Wendy's to the ground. 

Following the Atlanta cop's fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks outside of a Wendy's, there were  peaceful protests overshadowed by violent riots, including the torching of the Wendy's where Brooks was killed

When Turner was shot, her mom and her friend drove the family SUV towards the road block by the burnt out Wendy's. 

Atlanta police Lt. Pete Malecki told reporters at the time of the shooting that investigators believe the shots were fired intentionally as the vehicle crossed a barricade manned by a group of armed individuals.  

The SUV was struck by at least eight rounds, according to police, and Turner was rushed to Atlanta Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

The Atlanta police lieutenant also said at the time that there was no evidence to suggest that the gunmen opened fire on SUV in self-defense.

'She was only 8 years old. She would have been on TikTok dancing on her phone, just got done eating,' her heartbroken mother said at the time. 

'We understand the frustration of Rayshard Brooks. We didn’t have anything to do with that. We’re innocent. My baby didn’t mean no harm.'

'The girl just wanted to get home to see her cousins,' said her father, Secoriya Williamson. 'They say black lives matter. You killed your own.'