Woman identified as suspect in fire at Atlanta Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed

A woman was identified Saturday as a suspect in the fire at the Atlanta Wendy’s where Rayshard Brooks was killed by police. 

The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department announced on Twitter that investigators issued a warrant for Natalie White as a suspect in the arson fire at the Wendy’s earlier this month. The blaze occurred on June 13, the day after a police officer shot and killed Brooks in the parking lot.

An arrest warrant has been issued by Atlanta Fire Investigators for Ms. Natalie White. She has been identified as a suspect in the arson fire that burned down the Wendy’s Restaurant (125 University Ave) on Saturday, June 13th. Call 404-577-TIPS or 1-800-282-5804 with any info. pic.twitter.com/Xu6W2hgOi6

— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) June 20, 2020

Officials said the investigation is ongoing as they look for more information about the fire, Reuters reported.  

Police had responded to the Wendy’s after Brooks, a 27-year old Black man, fell asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane. At some point during the interaction Brooks began struggling with the officers, grabbed a stun gun and fled. Video of the arrest shows Brooks appearing to turn with the stun gun before he was shot in the back by one of the officers.

The video footage from one of the officer’s body cameras shows Brooks mentioning a “Natalie White,” Reuters reported. But a representative for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department declined to comment to Reuters if officials were examining whether the two had a relationship. 

Protests broke out at the Wendy’s location the night after Brooks’s death, which eventually resulted in the burning of the building. 

Atlanta Fire Sgt. Cortez Stafford said more people could have participated in starting the fire, according to CNN.

“We take arson very seriously,” Stafford said. “Someone could have been injured or killed.”