Vigil For Man Killed by Smyrna Police Draws Hundreds of Supporters

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A week after a Smyrna police sergeant shot and killed a 25-year-old black man who was driving a Maserati inside a Vinings parking lot, hundreds of people came together to pray for the victim’s family and demand more action from authorities.

The prayer vigil was held outside Smyrna City Hall on Tuesday, WSB-TV reports, with participants chanting demands that the investigation into the killing of Nicholas Thomas be turned over to an impartial body.

On March 24, Sgt. Kenneth Owens fatally shot Thomas in the parking lot of the Goodyear the Vinings Crossing shopping center where Thomas worked while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on him. Owens was joined by six other Smyrna and Cobb County officers at the scene, and feared for his life when Thomas drove a customer’s Maserati towards the officers in a reckless manner, police said.

More on the Killing of Nicholas Thomas From Smyrna-Vinings Patch:

• 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
• UPDATE: Police Say Vinings Shooting Victim Drove Vehicle At Officers, One Officer Opened Fire

Owens has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, police said.

Thomas’ family disputes the official story and wants the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to be the lead agency investigating the shooting. Cobb County police are heading up the investigation, with Smyrna police conducting their own internal inquest.

Smyrna police chief David Lee said that the investigation would be closely monitored by the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office and the GBI, but some activists are taking to Smyrna businesses to show their displeasure at the killing.

Protesters disrupted brunch at several Smyrna and Vinings area restaurants over the weekend to raise awareness of allegations racism in police shootings, including the shooting of Thomas.

According to WSB-TV, the protesters’ stated goal was to interfere with “traditionally white” areas and remind them that racism still exists in the so-called “post-racial America.” Customers and management say the protesters missed the mark with their disruptive demonstrations.