DECATUR, Ga. — The family of an environmental activist, shot by state troopers near the proposed site for a police and firefighter training center in the Atlanta area, has initiated legal action against three law enforcement officers. They allege that these officers orchestrated the raid that ultimately led to the tragic shooting of 26-year-old Manuel Paez Terán.
The family contends that the use of excessive force was evident when state troopers fired pepper balls into Terán’s tent after he opted to stay put on January 18, 2023. Officials assert that Terán responded by shooting at the officers from within the tent, injuring one, which prompted the troopers to return fire, resulting in Terán’s death.
This incident occurred during what authorities referred to as a “clearing operation” aimed at dismantling protests against the construction of what critics have labeled “Cop City” in DeKalb County, which has become a site of considerable contention.
The fatal shooting of Terán, who identified as Tortuguita and preferred the pronoun “they,” has sparked widespread protests and vigils around the globe as part of the “Stop Cop City” movement. Supporters describe Terán as a passionate advocate for environmental protection and social justice. However, law enforcement has painted a different picture, portraying the activist as an outsider with a radical agenda.
Following Terán’s death, their parents have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation regarding the events leading to the shooting. A privately commissioned autopsy revealed that Terán was positionally seated with their hands raised when they were shot multiple times, fueling further outrage and questions about the police’s response.
“The narrative surrounding Manuel’s death is still unfolding,” attorney Brian Spears asserted at a news conference in Decatur. “This lawsuit aims to uncover the truth about the planning of the raid and to hold those accountable.”
Having moved from Florida to Georgia in 2022, Terán had joined a collective of activists advocating for environmental preservation, branding themselves as “forest defenders.”
The lawsuit posits that GBI Special Agent Ryan Long breached the activists’ First Amendment rights by targeting them based on their political beliefs. According to the family’s legal team, the protesters had established their camp legally on public land, not on the actual construction site, leading to claims that their Fourth Amendment rights were violated when officers executed arrests for “criminal trespass.”
The legal documents further assert that when Terán expressed the intent to remain in the forest, Trooper Mark Lamb instructed Trooper Bryland Myers to use pepper balls against Terán’s tent, effectively cornering them in a hazardous situation, which allegedly instilled a reasonable fear of death.
According to reports, both Lamb and Myers were among the six troopers who discharged their sidearms at Terán after the activist allegedly fired upon them, an action deemed justifiable in self-defense by investigators. However, it has been noted that a prosecutor refrained from filing charges against the responsible troopers, claiming that their use of lethal force was “objectively reasonable.” Defense officials have also indicated that ballistic evidence connected the injured troop’s wounds to a firearm legally purchased by Terán in 2020.
The “Stop Cop City” initiative was born out of opposition to the development of an 85-acre Atlanta Public Safety and Training Center, with activists arguing that its establishment would not only threaten local ecosystems by clearing dense forests but also heighten flooding risks in a struggling, majority-Black community. They denounce the allocation of substantial public funds toward what critics describe as a militarized training facility.
Originally estimated at $90 million, construction costs have since escalated to $115 million, with city officials initially promising a much lower financial burden on taxpayers. The city maintains that the new facility aims to enhance police morale amidst challenges in recruitment and retention while emphasizing modern training methodologies.
Since Terán’s passing, their name has been chanted at multiple protests, some of which escalated into violence last year when groups attacked the construction site, resulting in numerous arrests. Following these events, over sixty individuals faced racketeering charges, while many were labeled domestic terrorists by law enforcement, inciting criticism of a strategy perceived to discredit dissenting views.
“Those advocating for environmental justice are not terrorists,” asserted Terán’s father, Joel Paez. “My child stood alongside those committed to fighting against environmental injustice.” Meanwhile, Terán’s mother, Belkis Terán, recalled her child’s deep spiritual connection to nature, signifying a profound loss for the family as she adorned herself with a turtle pendant—a tribute to Tortuguita, which means “little turtle” in Spanish.
