Family questions use of deadly force after 18-year-old was fatally shot during a foot pursuit in Newnan
NEWNAN, Ga. (Nov. 5, 2026) –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump will join the family of 18-year-old Zadarious Dorsey, attorney Harry M. Daniels, and attorney Gerald Griggs at a news conference Friday to make a major announcement in the case of the Black Newnan teenager who was shot and killed by a Newnan Police Department officer.
Dorsey was shot and killed on Oct. 3 after an officer pursued him on foot near Cliff Circle in Newnan.
Attorneys representing Dorsey’s family say he was unarmed at the moment the officer fired and question why the encounter escalated to deadly force.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting.
Family Disputes Official Account of the Shooting
According to the GBI’s preliminary account, a Newnan police officer saw a white vehicle near Dodson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive at approximately 1 a.m. and followed it until it stopped on Cliff Circle.
The GBI said five men exited the vehicle. Four ran, and the officer pursued Dorsey.
According to investigators, the officer ordered Dorsey to stop and deployed a Taser, which was ineffective. The officer told investigators that Dorsey then pulled a gun from his waistband and did not comply with commands to drop it before the officer fired multiple shots.
Dorsey’s family and attorneys dispute that account.
They say Dorsey was not the subject of a traffic stop and was not suspected of committing a crime when the officer began pursuing him. They also contend that he was unarmed when he was shot.
Handgun Was Recovered About 42 Feet From Where Dorsey Fell
A handgun was recovered at the scene.
The Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office has since said a Canik 9mm handgun with an extended magazine was found approximately 42 feet from where Dorsey fell. Investigators also reported finding Dorsey’s DNA on the firearm.
The location of the handgun has become one of the central points of dispute in the case.
Dorsey’s attorneys argue that the distance between the firearm and his body supports their position that he had discarded the weapon and was unarmed when the officer fired.
Authorities have not publicly established whether Dorsey threw or dropped the firearm before the officer began shooting or whether he was still holding it when the shots were fired.
Body-Camera Footage Is Part of the Investigation
The officer who shot Dorsey was wearing a body camera.
The Coweta County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that Dorsey’s family has been given an opportunity to review the officer’s body-worn camera footage as well as frame-by-frame images from the recording.
The DA has said the footage will be released to the public after the GBI completes its investigation.
Video evidence may be significant in determining:
- when Dorsey allegedly possessed the firearm;
- whether and when he discarded it;
- what commands did the officer give;
- Dorsey’s position when shots were fired;
- how much time passed between events; and
- whether the officer reasonably perceived an immediate threat when deadly force was used.
Family Questions: Why Dorsey Was Pursued
Dorsey’s attorneys have also questioned the circumstances leading to the foot pursuit.
They say Dorsey was neither the subject of a traffic stop nor suspected of a crime at the time.
The GBI’s preliminary statement says the officer followed the vehicle, approached after it stopped, and attempted to speak with the driver before several occupants ran.
The circumstances surrounding that initial encounter and the officer’s decision to pursue Dorsey may become part of the family’s continuing investigation.
GBI Investigation Remains Active
The GBI is investigating the shooting at the request of the Newnan Police Department.
Once the independent investigation is complete, the agency says it will submit its findings to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
The district attorney has said the criminal review will focus on whether the officer reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself when he shot Dorsey.
Any potential civil claims would involve a separate legal process and different legal standards.
Deadly Force During a Foot Pursuit Raises Broader Legal Questions
Police officers may encounter rapidly changing situations during foot pursuits, but the use of deadly force is governed by constitutional standards.
Cases involving a fleeing person may require close examination of whether that person posed an immediate threat at the moment deadly force was used.
The Dorsey case raises a broader question:
Can Police Use Deadly Force Against Someone Who Is Running Away?
The location and timing of a recovered weapon can also become significant when evaluating whether an officer reasonably perceived a threat.
Gun Found Away From a Police Shooting: How Does That Affect an Excessive Force Case?
Additional information about potential civil rights claims is available through Ben Crump Law’s civil rights lawyer resources.
Major Announcement Scheduled for Friday
Dorsey’s family will be joined by attorneys Ben Crump, Harry M. Daniels, and Gerald Griggs at Friday’s news conference.
WHO:
Zadarious Dorsey’s family
Attorney Ben Crump
Attorney Harry M. Daniels
Attorney Gerald Griggs
WHEN:
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026
Noon ET
WHERE:
Chapel of Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home
182 Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd.
Newnan, Ga.
Media are asked to RSVP using this reservation link.
MEDIA CONTACT:
[email protected]
[email protected]
ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas, including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
