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Kevin James Kennedy

Age : 44

Gender : Male

Race : White

Date : 08/27/2024

Location : State Road 33 near Lanier Road

City : Moultrie

County : Colqiuitt

State : Georgia

Agency : Georgia State Patrol

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : K9

Event : Reportedly killed by K9 after mistaken identity by police

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/27/2024, Kevin James Kennedy, 44, died at Atrium Health Navicent Medical Center in Macon from injuries sustained five days earlier during a Georgia State Patrol pursuit and K-9 apprehension in Colquitt County. At approximately 2:30 p.m. on August 22, a state trooper saw Kennedy driving a blue four-wheeler on State Road 33 near Lanier Road. The trooper was aware of recent thefts and burglaries reportedly involving someone using a blue four-wheeler and attempted to stop Kennedy.
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Kennedy continued driving while the trooper pursued him through fields, a ditch and back toward the highway. According to the GBI, while traveling through another field, Kennedy turned the four-wheeler into the trooper's patrol vehicle and the ATV overturned. Kennedy then ran from the crash. The trooper deployed a Georgia State Patrol K-9, which chased Kennedy, caught him and bit him. The trooper then handcuffed Kennedy.
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Importantly, Georgia State Patrol subsequently confirmed that Kennedy's four-wheeler was not stolen. The trooper's decision to initiate the stop had been based on the similarity between Kennedy's blue ATV and reports concerning a blue ATV allegedly associated with recent thefts and burglaries.
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The K-9 bite caused a serious injury requiring emergency medical treatment. Colquitt County E-911 records showed that the pursuit began at approximately 2:35 p.m.; less than ten minutes later GSP requested EMS because of the dog bite, and Kennedy was in an ambulance by 2:57 p.m. He was transported to Atrium Health Navicent in Macon and remained in critical condition.
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Kennedy's family reported that the injuries from the K-9 attack were so severe that doctors amputated one of his arms. He remained hospitalized and unable to speak before dying at approximately 1:28 p.m. on August 27. His family publicly questioned why the K-9 was deployed and emphasized that Kennedy was unarmed.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation opened a use-of-force investigation at the request of the Georgia State Patrol. Kennedy's body was sent to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy, and the investigative file was designated for submission to Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Shealy for review.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND
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The Georgia State Patrol trooper who pursued Kennedy and deployed the K-9 has not been publicly identified.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/gbi-investigating-after-colquitt-county-suspect-dies-after-k9-bite-during-arrest
https://www.laniercountynewsonline.com/2024/08/29/questions-surround-moultrie-mans-death-k-9-bite-or-car-accident/
https://apnews.com/article/police-georgia-dog-bite-k9-death-trooper-3fec89da4bf8b339112402b636b025c7
https://gbi.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-08-29/gbi-investigates-use-force-incident-colquitt-county-ga
https://www.walb.com/2024/08/25/moultrie-man-still-hospital-following-gsp-pursuit-involving-k-9/
https://www.walb.com/2024/08/29/gbi-conducting-use-of-force-investigation-following-deadly-gsp-k-9-pursuit/
https://www.walb.com/2024/08/30/gbi-gives-new-details-deadly-colquitt-co-k-9-pursuit/
https://www.bakerfhga.com/obituaries/kevin-kennedy