Newnan police shooting: Family reviews bodycam footage of fatal encounter

An 18-year-old man, Zadarious Dorsey, was shot and killed by a Newnan police officer during a foot chase near Cliff Circle on October 3. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the officer attempted to stop a vehicle, leading to a chase where Dorsey allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband. The officer then fired multiple shots, resulting in Dorsey's death.

Following the incident, the family of Dorsey met with Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney Herb Cranford to review evidence, including body camera footage, police radio traffic, and surveillance video. The family has agreed to the release of the body camera footage up to the moment of the shooting, but has requested that any footage depicting Dorsey’s suffering be excluded from public release.

Dorsey was facing prior felony charges related to an alleged sexual assault in Carrollton. Newnan Mayor James Shepherd and local leaders have noted that while the legal history is documented, the public should wait for the results of the official investigation before drawing conclusions. Protesters gathered outside the Newnan Police Department on October 9 to hold a moment of silence and demand transparency regarding the circumstances of the encounter.