The death of a South Georgia man following a police pursuit has sparked an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). Kevin James Kennedy, age 44, died from injuries sustained after a Georgia State Patrol (GSP) K-9 bit him during his arrest on August 22, 2024. This came after a GSP trooper attempted to stop Kennedy for his suspected involvement in recent burglaries and thefts, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.

The incident unfolded around 2:30 p.m. when the trooper, patrolling State Road 33 near Lanier Road, recognized Kennedy's blue four-wheeler. When Kennedy failed to comply and pull over, he led the trooper on a chase through various terrains and even collided with the patrol car, causing it to overturn. Kennedy strived to escape on foot, only to be tracked down and apprehended by the K-9 unit. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it remains unclear where or how many times the dog bit him during the incident.

Kennedy was handcuffed and received immediate medical assistance from EMS and local deputies at the scene. He was later transported to a hospital in Macon for further treatment but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries five days later, on August 27, 2024. The GBI has taken the lead in rigorously investigating the use-of-force encounter, and the autopsy results are pending. The findings will be passed to Southern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Brad Shealy for review, as noted by FOX 5 Atlanta.

While the details of the GBI investigation are still under wraps, the community awaits to learn more about the circumstances leading up to Kennedy's death. The GBI plans to thoroughly interrogate every aspect of this tragic event and aim to provide a comprehensive report to the District Attorney's office. As the probe into the fatal K-9 bite continues, questions concerning the appropriateness of the force used during Kennedy's arrest remain at the forefront of this challenging scenario.