Atlanta’s Citizen Review Board on Thursday cleared two Atlanta police officers in the 2022 Buckhead shooting that killed 22-year-old Nygil Cullins, finding their use of force justified and in line with department policy. The ruling came during a public meeting where members watched body-worn camera footage and combed through investigative files, marking the board’s first completed officer-involved shooting review since its authority was expanded after the killing of Rayshard Brooks in 2020. Families and advocates who have long criticized the board’s slow pace say the decision is likely to reignite long-running fights over oversight, transparency and how Atlanta responds when a mental-health crisis collides with law enforcement.
As reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the review board unanimously concluded that Officers Alex Luebbehusen and Andrew Strutt were justified when they opened fire inside a crowded Buckhead steakhouse on May 18, 2022. The AJC notes that slowed body-camera video shows Cullins trying to run from officers and firing a shot that wounded a security guard, and board chair Cheyenne Morin told the paper the panel knew its conclusion would draw mixed reactions.
Board’s Official Record And Process
The Atlanta Citizen Review Board’s public case log lists the May 18, 2022 shooting as OIS 22-007 and shows the investigation marked “Completed” after staff reviewed Atlanta Police Department investigative files and body-worn camera footage, as laid out by the Atlanta Citizen Review Board. Those same process documents emphasize that the ACRB conducts administrative reviews focused on policy compliance, which are separate from any criminal investigations run by outside authorities.
Video Release And Family Reaction
Earlier releases of surveillance and body-camera clips from the restaurant confrontation sparked protests and demands that all unedited footage be made public, according to reporting by Fox5 Atlanta. The Cullins family filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit in 2024, and that case has become a key driver in the push for transparency and additional scrutiny of the shooting; family’s wrongful-death suit details the filing and the relatives’ public calls for answers.
Why Access To Footage Matters
The board’s decision lands as state lawmakers debate Senate Bill 482, a proposal that would add notarized, in-person requirements and other hurdles for people seeking police body-camera recordings. Critics argue those changes could make it tougher for journalists, families and oversight boards to review the raw video that shapes public accountability. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that opponents warn the measure would chill transparency even as supporters insist it is aimed at curbing mug-shot profiteering.
Legal Implications…