Georgia Officer Charged with Voluntary Man Slaughter

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By James Hetherington

Reporter

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A police officer from Kingsland, Georgia, will face charges of voluntary manslaughter after he allegedly shot and killed a black man last week.

Police say officer Zecharia Presley, 25, was fired from his job on Wednesday after he shot Anthony "Tony" Green, 33, on June 21. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Presley turned himself in to the Camden County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. Along with voluntary manslaughter, Presley faces a charge of violation of oath of office.

The GBI say the incident occured after Presley followed Green in his patrol car. "The vehicle stopped and as Green fled on foot from the vehicle, Presley pursued him eventually making physical contact with green," states GBI.

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"Green again fled from Presley at which time Presley fired multiple shots resulting in Green's death. The investigation is still active and ongoing."

There was a passenger in Green's car, but they have not been found or identified. It was revealed by News4Jax that Presley had nine incidents on his personnel file, including tasering people. On his application to the police force, Presley had 10 red flags including marijuana use and domestic violence.

Presley joined the police force about 13 months ago. If found guilty of voluntary manslaughter, he will face up to 20 years in jail. The GBI is still reviewing footage from Presley's patrol car and his body camera video.

GBI told Newsweek the next step would be a preliminary and bond hearing.

Green was a father of three and his family believe Presley deserves a hefty sentence, if found guilty. "He took a life, so he should get life, too," Green's aunt Juanita Knight told News4Jax.

A local resident who lives near the scene of the shooting, Becci Shannon, said she could hear gunshots being fired. "We heard eight quick pops," Shannon said, according to News4Jax. "We saw the ambulance and medics come on the scene and start doing CPR. It was very unreal."

"I don't think it's a healing time yet," Shannon said in reference to the community's reaction. "I don't think people have the hope that there's a solution to keep this type of thing from happening again. Some are outraged and some are just blowing it off, and I don't understand why."

Kingsland sits above the Florida-Georgia border and is 335 miles southeast of Atlanta.