ATLANTA β The Atlanta Police Department has released video footage from a fatal police shooting that occurred over two years ago at a Buckhead restaurant. Nygil Cullins, a 22-year-old, was shot and killed by police officers on May 18, 2022, at Fogo de ChΓ£o on Piedmont Road NE. His family, alongside their attorneys, has been advocating for transparency and the release of the full, unedited video from that night.
Cullins’ parents expressed their desire for the footage to be made public, and the APD complied by releasing videos from the officers’ body cameras and the restaurant’s surveillance cameras.
**The Moments Before the Shooting**
According to security footage, Cullins entered the restaurant’s bar shortly before 7 p.m. and was seen sitting at the bar for an extended period. At one point, he attempted to access a bottle of alcohol, leading to interactions with restaurant staff. Although the surveillance video does not have audio, 911 calls from that night indicated a man reported seeing Cullins with a gun, noting that he was agitated but had not pointed the weapon at anyone.
By 7:46 p.m., police officers arrived at the scene. Body camera footage shows Cullins standing up with his hands raised as officers entered, revealing a gun tucked in his waistband but not in his hands. An encounter ensued, and Cullins appeared to be Tased before he fled the officers.
**The Interaction**
As Cullins ran toward the restaurant’s front door, he was tackled by security personnel. A struggle ensued, during which a gunshot was heard, and soon after, officers fired multiple rounds at Cullins, who was found with a gun on the ground beside him. Despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly after.
**Background on the Case**
Cullins’ parents have stated that the shooting followed a mental health crisis, and they had called the police to seek help. They specifically requested officers trained to handle mental health situations, fearing for their son’s safety. However, police took nearly two hours to arrive, missing Cullins by about 10 minutes.
The APD reported that they were called regarding an “unruly patron armed with a handgun.” The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, during which the Taser was deployed but deemed ineffective.
Following the incident, the family filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Atlanta, the restaurant, the security team, and the two responding officers, claiming negligence and excessive use of force contributed to the tragedy.