Police search for ‘instigators’ who started Wendy’s fire after Rayshard Brooks shooting

ATLANTA — Channel 2 Action News obtained new video of a woman who police say is responsible for starting a fire that torched a Wendy’s restaurant, just hours after a deadly police shooting there.

The fire destroyed the fast-food restaurant off University Avenue, where 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by an Atlanta officer. The investigation into his death is ongoing.

The Atlanta Police Foundation says a lot of tips have come in to CrimeStoppers Atlanta after they posted a $10,000 reward for her arrest.

A Channel 2 viewer recorded the video on Saturday night. It clearly shows a white woman in shorts with a pony tail spraying something into the flames at the restaurant. She smiles and nods and walks away from the restaurant as flames spread.

Atlanta police shared a second video of the same woman on their Twitter account and still photos of a second woman dressed in black with an aerosol can.

Dave Wilkinson is the president of the Atlanta Police Foundation and a former secret service agent. He says its clear police are searching for a small number of people who came with different intentions than the peaceful protests.

“We’re talking about individuals that are literally throwing Molotov cocktails, the folks that are setting businesses on fire. It appears that their intention for being there is to destroy property, wreak havoc and create violence,” Wilkinson said. “There’s no question when you see that video of the suspects they certainly look different, they certainly dress differently.”

Atlanta police say their department made 36 arrests on Saturday night and just six on Sunday.

Wilkinson also warned off morale at an all-time low for the police department.

RAW VIDEO: NewsDrone 2 flies over destroyed Wendy's building Atlanta police are looking for people who set fire to the fast-food restaurant during Saturday's night protests over the death of Rayshard Brooks.

© 2020 Cox Media Group