Family sues police and Buckhead restaurant 2 years after son’s death at Fogo De Chao

It has been more than two years since Mya and Quinten Cullins last saw their son Nygil.

The 22-year-old was shot dead at a Fogo De Chao in Buckhead on May 18, 2022.

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“This is a bad day, this day will never go away… May 18th will never go away,” Quinten said.

Nygil’s parents knew he needed mental health help that day.

His mother says they had arranged for him to be placed in a psychiatric hospital when they requested help to transport him, but help did not arrive until hours later, after Nygil had already left the house.

“The system failed my son,” Quinten said.

Because of the further incidents, the family is now suing the city and the restaurant.

Nygil went to Fogo De Chao in Buckhead, where he used to work. The lawsuit alleges that staff called 9-1-1 and security lied about Nygil being a threat.

“When the officer arrived, he raised his hands and immediately fell to the ground,” Cullins said.

Police have not released the body camera footage publicly, but the family and the NAACP say they have been allowed to view the footage.

The family and the lawsuit claim that police tasered Nygil without “warning or justification.”

The lawsuit alleges that Nygil tried to run away when the restaurant’s security guard attempted to attack him. The security guard was shot during the altercation.

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The lawsuit alleges that police then shot Nygil even though he was “helpless, immobilized and unconscious.”

A witness video shows the consequences, but the family wants the body camera footage to be made public.

“We can’t close the case if they aren’t transparent,” Mya said.

The family hopes this lawsuit will bring transparency, clear their son’s name and lead to change in a system they believe has failed their son.

“So there will be no closure. This can’t happen until we get justice, until we get transparency, until we see a change in policy,” Quinten said.

Atlanta police and Fogo De Chao said in separate statements that they were aware of the lawsuit but declined to comment on pending litigation.

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