Jeantique Oriol wheeled himself into the Fulton County courthouse Wednesday just two months after being shot five times by a Fulton County police officer.
Oriol turned himself into authorities on robbery, battery and obstruction charges in the April 6 shooting that critically injured him.
Police said Oriol attacked a man who stayed at the Panther Riverside Parc apartment complex, refused to drop his weapon and ignored the officer’s command.
But Oriol’s lawyer told Channel 2 Action News those claims are unfounded.
“At no point did he do anything to engage the police or cause (them) to use that level of force,” attorney Gerald Griggs said. “He maintains he was an innocent victim.”
Griggs also said his client was speaking with someone at the apartment complex — not fighting them.
“He was actually sitting in his car,” Griggs said. “The police pulled up, got out of his car and a few seconds later (Oriol) was shot.”
Oriol, who is now bound to a wheelchair, remained in the Fulton County jail Wednesday evening.
The local actor had been in Atlanta to take care of his grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer, his family told Channel 2.
It is not known if the officer, whose name has not been released, was placed on administrative leave during the GBI’s investigation.
The GBI has investigated 30 officer-involved shootings through April. Last year, the bureau investigated 78 officer-involved shootings.
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