Georgia Pastor Gunned Down by Cops

A 28 year old pastor from Lavonia, GA was shot and killed by county undercover cops as he, apparently scared by the two men rushing his car with guns drawn, attempted to back out of a convenience store parking lot.

The officers claim they identified themselves to the young man, and that they were wearing their badges on a lanyard around their necks. Store surveillance video is silent, and with no audio, one cannot determine what they may have said to Ayers.

But what is clear from the video is that these undercover officers were so aggressive in their actions that they didn't even put their own vehicle in Park. They jumped out of their vehicle, and it is clearly seen continuing to roll away.

And what had Pastor Jonathan Ayers done to deserve being summarily executed on a Toccoa GA street? Had he just robbed the convenience store, or other establishment? Had he committed a hit and run? Had he threatened anyone's life.

No, no and no.

Jonathan Ayers had been seen in the company of a woman who was under observation by the undercover police. The woman had been in the Ayer's vehicle. She had gotten out. She was apparently nowhere near the scene. But because she had been in Pastor Ayers' vehicle, he became a target. Literally, as it turned out.

Jonathan Ayers was gunned down on the streets of Toccoa GA because another person the police had an interest in had been in his car, and gotten out. And for this heinous act, Ayers was rushed by two undercover cops, guns drawn, and because Jonathan Ayers, probably believing he was about to be robbed (he had just withdrawn money from the store's ATM) or carjacked, attempted to flee from what he probably believed was an assault on his person, he continued to back out of the parking place, trying to get to safety.

And for that "crime", he was shot and killed.

Now the cops say Ayers tried to back over one of the officers. Watch the video. The officer is along side the vehicle. Ayers didn't try to back over him. The cop was never in danger of being backed over. (video at www.wneg32.tv)

There is no justification for the use of deadly physical force by these officers. They gunned down Pastor Jonathan Ayers, plain and simple. Any of us, under similiar circumstances, would have done the same thing - try flee from two aggressive men who have approached our vehicle with guns drawn.

Nothing Jonathan Ayers did justifies his execution at the hands of two undercover cops. Everything these cops did cries out for investigation, and justice.

Justice for the memory of Jonathan Ayers, his widow, and the unborn child who will never know their father.