The search for a missing driver following a hit-and-run incident in Rockdale County tragically concluded with the discovery of his body. Shaquel Liburd, 31, was identified as the man who vanished after the accident last Saturday and was later found deceased in the neighboring Dekalb County. Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) initially responded to the scene near Turner Road and Sherrie Lane at approximately 6:43 p.m., but by the time authorities arrived, Liburd had already left the area. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that efforts to persuade him to return to the scene were made by his mother, who indicated to deputies that her son had a traumatic brain injury from a prior accident.
Liburd's mother attempted to communicate with him via phone and beseeched him to come back, but she was unsuccessful in her attempts. Given his condition, law enforcement officers felt compelled to quickly issue a Mattie's Call, a statewide alert for missing individuals who have mental impairments. This was enacted at 9:37 p.m., the same night.
The subsequent search operation extensively covered the area surrounding Turner Road, Iris Drive, as well as local neighborhoods and businesses. It involved multiple agencies including the Rockdale County Fire Rescue, Conyers Police Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia State Patrol. Canine units, drones, helicopters, and ground teams were dispatched, with specialized infrared technology being utilized to aid in locating Liburd. However, all resources and efforts to find Liburd that night proved futile as the search came to a halt at around 11:43 p.m. Rockdale Newton Citizen highlighted the mother's involvement and the details of the incident.
The discovery of Liburd's body was shared by the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Department, with the circumstances of his death currently under investigation; no further details have been released as of yet. His tragic passing is now being investigated to uncover the full story behind his final moments.
