Family of teen killed by Henry County officer hires civil rights lawyers

The family of 16-year-old Tyrie Howse has retained civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Gerald Griggs following the teenager's fatal shooting by a Henry County police officer near a Krispy Kreme on Highway 138 in Stockbridge, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

The shooting occurred on November 3, 2026, sparking community outrage and conflicting accounts about the incident. Howse, a Black junior and honor roll student at Woodland High School who aspired to be a pediatric nurse, was shot while running away from the officer.

According to the family's legal team, witnesses said Howse was unarmed and shot in the back during the encounter. Daniels described Howse as a good kid with a bright future and vowed to seek justice for the family.

However, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation stated that the officer approached Howse and a 17-year-old in the parking lot, and that the older teen handed a handgun to Howse after the officer instructed him to remove his hands from his pockets. The officer fired after Howse ran and did not drop the gun, according to the GBI.

Friends and family held a vigil where they released balloons to honor Howse's memory. The family and their attorneys continue to demand answers and justice in the case.