Families and advocates seek transparency in 2021 APD shooting and press for accountability on officer DUIs

Several family members and community advocates addressed the Public Safety Legal Administration Committee on April 28 to demand transparency and accountability in a 2021 police shooting and to call for action on officers accused of DUI-related misconduct.

Taketa Holland, who identified herself as a cousin of Gabriel Antonio Parker, said the family has had “no clarity” about why Parker was shot and buried and asked the committee to help obtain answers. “We deserve to know why we buried Gabriel Antonio Parker,” Holland said, naming the victim and asking for the guilty to be charged. Alyona Lofton, representing one of the families and citing an ongoing investigation, said the Atlanta Citizens Review Board’s investigator cannot complete aspects of its review because of an open Office of Professional Standards investigation; she said the board’s inquiry has been stalled since the July 20, 2021 incident.

Several speakers connected the call for transparency to broader concerns about officer accountability. Belle Anderson and Janet Liburd urged the committee to investigate why officers accused of driving under the influence remain employed, and argued disciplinary responses have been insufficient. Anderson said she is seeking “justice for my son” and called the pattern of alleged DUI infractions a crisis.

The committee and staff responded during the meeting. Chair Andrea Boone asked Deputy Chief Hampton to connect with speaker Philip Jones about an ongoing property dispute and advised affected family members that the office will share contact information. Amber A. Robinson of the city law department advised that disciplinary authority over officers generally rests with the mayor’s administration and the chief of police, but she confirmed the committee may request information from APD. Council Member Antonio Lewis asked whether the committee could request APD provide a list of officers with open DUI investigations; Amber Robinson said the council or any member may request that information from APD.

Speakers repeatedly requested intervention from the Atlanta Citizens Review Board and the administration. Several family members said investigations have been open for years without full transparency to the victim’s family. Committee members pledged to work with the administration and to ask the law department to provide guidance on next steps.

The public comment period concluded without formal committee action on these specific cases; committee members said they would pursue information through the administration and the law department.