Protestors Disrupt Another Smyrna City Council Meeting

SMYRNA, GA -- For the second time in as many months, protestors disrupted a Smyrna city council Monday night over the promotion of a white police officer who shot and killed a black suspect.

The group was protesting the promotion of Kenneth Owens, who killed Nicholas Thomas, 23, during an arrest attempt last year.

The group shut down a city council meeting last month, and did so again Monday night for about 20 minutes, reports Channel 2 Action News. Mayor Max Bacon was shouted down by the protestors, and left the meeting. Eventually everyone was removed from the meeting.

On March 24, 2015, Owens, along with two other Smyrna officers and four Cobb County officers, were serving an arrest warrant on Thomas, who was working at a Goodyear inside the Vinings Crossing shopping center.

Police say that when Thomas saw the officers approaching, he drove a customer’s white Maserati around the building several times in a reckless manner, and then drove straight at the officers. At that point, police say that Owens feared for his safety and fired at the Maserati, killing Thomas.

A Cobb County grand jury determined the shooting was justified and recommended no further action be taken in the case.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Cobb County Police Department also investigated the shooting and determined that Owens was justified in pulling the trigger. Owens has since been promoted to lieutenant.

The protestors are calling Owens “a rogue cop” who was out for “revenge” because they say Thomas had evaded an arrest attempt the night before.

The Nick Thomas Justice Coalition is also calling for a meeting with the mayor.

More on the case from Smyrna-Vinings Patch:

• Smyrna Officer Involved in Shooting Promoted
• Man Killed by Smyrna Police Was Shot in Back: Autopsy
• Smyrna Police Officer Who Shot Man Returns to Work
• Funeral of Man Killed by Smyrna Police Announced
• Smyrna Officer Involved in Fatal Shooting Faced Assault, Battery Charges in ‘99: Report
• Vigil For Man Killed by Smyrna Police Draws Hundreds of Supporters
• Prayer Vigil Planned For Man Killed by Smyrna Police
• Smyrna Police Identify Officers Involved in Fatal Shooting Incident
• Protesters Disrupt Smyrna-Area Restaurants After Police Shooting
• Smyrna Police Chief: Cobb PD, DA’s Office Will Investigate Officer-Involved Killing
• Family of Man Slain By Smyrna Police Want Independent Investigation