The ongoing public clash and controversy over the way in which police officers treat black suspects reached a new plateau in Atlanta this week when a city police officer who opened fire on an unarmed black man last month was charged with murder charge  Officer James Burns turned himself in to the Fulton County Jail on Saturday, according to online records from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.  Burns had been fired by the Atlanta Police Department after he shot and killed Devaris Caine Rogers, on June 22. (Rogers’ first name has been spelled “Deravis” in some news reports, but a statement from the DA uses the spelling “Devaris.”).

Officer James Burns was fired and now faces a slew of charges in the shooting death of Devaris Caine Rogers, an unarmed black man.  Burns was responding to a report of suspicious activity at an apartment complex when the tragic encounter occurred.  The call came from an off-duty officer. He and two other officers saw Rogers attempt to leave in a vehicle, said a statement from the district attorney’s office.  “Upon arrival, Burns, who is white, blocked the path of a 2011 silver Ford Fusion that was leaving the scene,” a statement from the Fulton County district attorney’s office explained.

Rogers did not tried to strike the officer with the vehicle, the district attorney’s office said.

“Despite the fact the Ford Fusion made no attempt to strike the officer and Burns was safely standing at the rear of his own patrol vehicle, Burns pulled his service weapon and fired one shot into the passenger side of Rogers’ vehicle. The victim was struck in the head.”

“At the time of the shooting, Burns was not provided with any facts describing Rogers as a threat to the officer or the public. Neither was Rogers identified as the man the off-duty officer had previously reported,” the statement said.

Rogers was unarmed, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Devaris Caine Rogers, 22, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head on June 22.  The incident was investigated by the district attorney’s office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations and APD.  “We determined right away that the shooting was not something the department could stand behind,” Sgt. Warren Pickard told FOX 5-Atlanta.

Rogers’ father said that Devaris had started a new job the day he was killed. “He was young, he had dreams and aspirations,” said Thomas Rogers, according to NBC affiliate WXIA. “He had dreams and goals. I was proud of him, and I am still proud of him.”

Burns was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of violation of oath by a police officer.

“By reason of the evidence presented by several eyewitnesses, videos and the findings of the Atlanta Police Department, we will proceed in this case in the same manner as any other defendant similarly charged — arrest, indictment and resolution,” District Attorney Paul Howard said in the statement.

Howard said Burns’ case will be brought before a grand jury for indictment in August. Burns was fired by the Atlanta Police Department last week.

Burns’ lawyer, Drew Findling, told CNN affiliate WSB on Saturday that he would aggressively investigate the case.

“We recognize this is a tragedy,” Findling said. “That being said, I defend officer Burns and I think that warrant was issued prematurely.”

Burns’ other lawyer, Lance LoRusso, said in a statement that Burns was appealing his termination from the Atlanta police and “we are conducting our own investigation into the facts of this incident.”

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