Two of the three individuals charged with arson in the burning of the Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta, where Rayshard Brooks was fatally shot by a police officer in June 2020, have pleaded guilty after reaching agreements with prosecutors. Chisom Kingston, Natalie White, and John Wade were arrested on arson charges shortly after the incident, which occurred during a period of nationwide unrest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. In January 2022, a Fulton County grand jury indicted the trio on two counts of first-degree arson and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree arson.
On Thursday, Kingston and White pleaded guilty to the charges and received a sentence of five years of probation, a $500 fine, and 150 hours of community service to be completed within the first year of probation. According to court records, they were sentenced under Georgia’s first offender law, which means their records will be expunged if they successfully complete their sentences without violating the terms or committing another crime. Wade’s case is still pending, as he is currently serving time in federal prison for pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to burn U.S. Postal Service vehicles.
Amanda Young, Wade’s lawyer, declined to comment on his Fulton County case or the plea deals of his co-defendants. Khalil Eaddy, Kingston’s attorney, expressed remorse on behalf of his client and stated that Kingston is relieved to have this case behind him. Eaddy highlighted Kingston’s achievements, including graduating from Georgia State University and plans to pursue graduate school, and emphasized his commitment to his family and community.
Drew Findling and Zack Kelehear, attorneys for White, stated that their client resolved her case with a plea agreement after three years of litigation, just before a jury trial was scheduled to begin.
The Wendy’s restaurant was set on fire during a protest on June 13, 2020, the night after Brooks was shot by a police officer. The police had responded to complaints about Brooks sleeping in his car in the drive-thru lane. Body camera footage shows Brooks struggling with the officers and ultimately fleeing with a Taser, which he fired at one of the officers as he ran. Brooks was shot twice in the back and subsequent investigations concluded that the officers acted reasonably. Prior to the shooting, Brooks mentioned a girlfriend named Natalie White, who was later confirmed to be the person he was referring to.
The plea deals of Kingston and White mark a significant development in the legal proceedings surrounding the arson of the Wendy’s restaurant. While Wade’s case is still ongoing, the guilty pleas of his co-defendants shed light on the potential outcomes for those involved in the incident. The resolution of these cases provides closure for the individuals and their legal representatives, as well as for the Atlanta community affected by the events of that night in June 2020.
