The man accused of killing a veteran Fulton County police officer in an ambush attack has been indicted on murder charges, the District Attorney said Tuesday.
Amanuel Menghesha, 42, of Fairburn, allegedly shot Detective Terence Avery Green in the back of the head in March as several officers responded to a report of shots being fired, according to police. Green, 48, died from his injuries.
A 22-year veteran of the department, Green was killed in the early-morning hours of March 4 as he and six other officers searched for the suspect in The Parks of Cedar Grove subdivision in south Fulton County, according to police.
Fulton police had been called before to Menghesha’s home in the 7000 block of Parks Trail. In November, he was arrested after allegedly assaulting his daughter and choking and threatening to kill his fiancée. He was due in court to answer the charges just days before he allegedly killed Green.
Around 1 a.m. March 4, Menghesha allegedly fired several shots at the officers, striking Green and a second officer, who was struck on his duty belt. The second officer’s radio was destroyed, but Green was gravely injured, and died after being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Officers returned fire striking Menghesha, who spent more than two weeks in the hospitsl before being booked into the Fulton County jail.
Green, a father of four, was well known in the community where he worked. He attended high school in East Point and Morris Brown College before becoming an officer.
His close-knit group of friends called him a hero for protecting and serving the community. Thousands attended Green’s funeral, including law enforcement officers from across Georgia.
“He had the gift of being able to understand life,” longtime friend Carlton Gammage previously told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Our friend will go down as a hero. Protect and serve, that’s what he was doing. He was protecting and serving.”
In addition to his sons, Green is survived by his parents and an older brother.
The 29-count indictment returned Friday against Menghesha includes charges of murder, felony murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, aggravated assault against a peace officer, reckless conduct, criminal damage to property, violating family violence order and weapons offenses in connection with the shooting death of Green, DA Paul Howard said.
A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
About the Author
