Judge dismisses lawsuit over killing of ‘Cop City’ activist

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a civil rights lawsuit against Georgia State Patrol troopers in the 2023 killing of Manuel Paez Terán, an environmental activist shot during protests against a police training facility near Atlanta. Terán, who went by the name "Tortuguita," was killed on January 18, 2023, when troopers carried out an operation at the protest site. The lawsuit sought damages and accountability for his death, which became a focal point for activists opposing the construction of the training facility known as "Cop City." The dismissal removes one legal avenue for the activist's family and supporters to pursue damages in federal court, though other legal proceedings may continue. The case has remained contentious among civil rights advocates and police accountability groups.