Just last weekend, thousands gathered at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the iconic Imagine Music Festival. While attendees enjoyed top acts including Above and Beyond, Seven Lions, and KSHMR, there is also sad news of a death on the second night. New reports state that a 24 year old man died after being tased by three officers outside the festival. The man leaving the festival that night has been identified as Fernando Rodriguez.
Police were called to the scene after someone dialed 911, stating Rodriguez had been undressing himself in public. GBI spokesperson Nelly Miles states Rodriguez “became combative” with officers. It’s unclear at this time whether alcohol or drugs played a part in the altercation. After resisting police, officers made the decision to tase Rodriguez. Miles said:
“Multiple officers tased him. He did go into medical distress [and] they attempted to respond to that. He was taken to the hospital and he later died as a result of what happened during that incident.”
During this ongoing investigation, the GBI will utilize witnesses in the area, along with police body cam footage. A woman in the area around Imagine Music Festival reportedly streamed most of the altercation on Facebook Live. It must be determined whether proper force was utilized by the police officers, as well as whether Rodriguez had any prior medical conditions. This is truly a tragic event. Stay tuned for further updates on this matter as we learn more.
Be safe out there and remember to watch out for one another.
h/t: AJC
