A Rockdale County environmental official, Kenny Johnson, has died following his testimony at a public hearing concerning the aftermath of the BioLab chemical fire. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Johnson, who served as the Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, experienced shortness of breath and collapsed shortly after his address.
The Georgia House Democratic Caucus recounted the incident, stating that Johnson "complained of shortness of breath and subsequently collapsed in the hallway" outside of the meeting chamber, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. State Rep. Viola Davis, also a professional nurse, immediately stepped in to administer CPR while awaiting the arrival of medical professionals. Unfortunately, despite the attempts to promptly save and revive him at Grady Memorial Hospital, Johnson later passed away.
His passing occurred in the wake of discussing the severe impact of the BioLab incident, which led to substantial hazardous plumes clouding over Rockdale County and other portions of metro Atlanta. This has caused ongoing effects, including evacuations and continuous shelter-in-place orders, as mentioned by Atlanta News First.
Earlier, in a statement to Atlanta News First, Johnson had characterized the fire as an "environmental disaster." As an advocate for environmental justice, his contributions were significant, and his concerns about the BioLab fire's effects on the community were brought to light during the public forum. The corresponding loss has been met with sorrow and recognition, with Georgia House Democratic Caucus Leader James Beverly expressing "heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased" and emphasizing the group's mourning and solidarity in this time of sorrow, as per FOX 5 Atlanta. Additionally, Rep. Davis reflected on Johnson's dedication to environmental justice, noting that his advocacy efforts should spark a commitment to action among the community and its leaders.
As a response to Johnson's untimely death, an autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to properly determine the cause of death. Johnson's memory is to be honored by those he leaves behind, with a particular focus on the environmental issues he worked passionately to address.
