Witnesses of fatal police shooting speak

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga, — The Avondale Estates police officer who shot and killed an unarmed college student has been cleared and will not face any charges. Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes spoke with people who saw the fatal shooting.

A civil grand jury concluded the police officer should face criminal charges, but DeKalb County District Attorney Robert James disagreed and cleared the officer of any wrongdoing Friday.

James said the grand jury wasn't properly trained to make that decision.

Police video shows Sgt. Lynn Thomas telling Jarvis Benjamin, 20, to stay in his car.

Police say Benjamin had just sped through an intersection, which led to a short pursuit. During the pursuit, Benjamin allegedly crashed into a telephone pole on the street.

The crash is what got the attention of Mike Froedge and his wife.

"We heard a lot of noise and the power went out. We weren't certain what it was," Froedge said.

When Froedge and his wife Tricia came outside, they witnessed Thomas tell Benjamin to stay in the car.

Benjamin got out anyway, and that's when the officer grabbed his gun and started backing up.

"The officer didn't actually pull the trigger until he was on the ground on his back and the guy was coming towards him," Froedge said.

Froedge and his wife agree with the district attorney's decision to not charge Thomas.

"I would've made the same choice, when your life is on the line, ya know, the guy was bigger than him. He was taller than him. He was heavier than him, even if he was not armed," Froedge said.

Cox Media Group