The death of Zadarious Dorsey, an 18-year-old from Newnan, Georgia, is being investigated after an officer-involved shooting early Saturday, October 3, 2026. According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Dorsey was shot during a foot pursuit and later died at an area hospital.
The incident has prompted an independent GBI investigation at the request of the Newnan Police Department. Because that investigation remains active, some important questions—including the full circumstances surrounding the encounter—have not yet been resolved publicly.
Latest Update on Zadarious Dorsey
As of October 4, 2026, the latest confirmed information comes from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The agency said Dorsey, 18, of Newnan, was shot and killed during an officer-involved shooting on October 3. No officers were injured.
The GBI said its investigation is active and ongoing. Dorsey’s body is being taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, while the completed investigative file will eventually be submitted to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Who Was Zadarious Dorsey?
Zadarious Dorsey was an 18-year-old resident of Newnan, a city in Coweta County, Georgia. His death was confirmed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation following the October 3 officer-involved shooting.
At this early stage, publicly available reporting provides considerably more information about the circumstances of the shooting than about Dorsey’s personal life. Reliable sources reviewed for this report do not provide a detailed obituary, family biography, employment history, education record or funeral announcement.
For that reason, information about his parents, siblings, relationship status, children, religious beliefs and career should not be presented as fact without confirmation from his family or an official obituary.
What Happened to Zadarious Dorsey?
According to the GBI’s preliminary account, the incident began at approximately 1 a.m. on October 3, 2026. A Newnan police officer reportedly saw a white car driving near the intersection of Dodson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The officer followed the vehicle until it stopped on Cliff Circle.
The officer then approached the vehicle and attempted to speak with the driver. Five men got out of the car. According to investigators, one man walked toward a nearby home while four others ran away. The officer pursued one of the men, who was later identified as Dorsey.
The Foot Pursuit
The GBI said the officer gave Dorsey verbal commands to stop while pursuing him on foot. Investigators said Dorsey continued running, after which the officer deployed a Taser. The GBI reported that the Taser was ineffective.
According to the preliminary investigation, the officer then saw Dorsey pull a gun from the area of his waistband. The officer reportedly ordered him to stop and drop the gun before firing multiple shots.
Hospital Death
Officers provided medical aid to Dorsey until emergency medical personnel arrived. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. No officers were injured in the incident.
The GBI said a gun was recovered at the scene. The agency has not publicly released the identity of the officer involved in the shooting in its initial statement.
Zadarious Dorsey Cause of Death
The confirmed cause of death at this point is injuries sustained in the officer-involved shooting. The GBI said Dorsey was shot multiple times and later died at an area hospital.
A medical examiner’s autopsy is expected to provide additional medical findings. Until those findings are released, it would be inappropriate to speculate about the specific fatal injuries or other medical details.
Where Did the Shooting Happen?
The incident occurred in Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia. The initial police contact involved a white car near Dodson Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before the vehicle stopped on Cliff Circle. The subsequent foot pursuit occurred after several occupants left the vehicle.
The exact sequence of events during the pursuit is still part of the GBI investigation. Additional evidence, including the autopsy and any available witness or investigative material, may provide more detail as the case progresses.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Investigation
The Newnan Police Department requested that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. This is the standard distinction that matters in an officer-involved shooting: the initial police account is not the final determination of what occurred.
Once the investigation is completed, the GBI says the case will be given to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review. The district attorney’s review will occur after investigators finish their work.
Was Zadarious Dorsey Charged With a Crime?
Some local reporting has described previous arrests involving Dorsey. However, those records should be kept separate from the October 3 shooting and should not be treated as proof of guilt for any prior allegation.
More importantly, the GBI’s current investigation concerns the circumstances of the officer-involved shooting. The agency’s preliminary statement says Dorsey was seen pulling a gun during the foot pursuit, but the investigation has not yet been completed.
Family and Early Life
Detailed information about Dorsey’s family and early life has not been released in the authoritative reports reviewed for this article.
Because he was only 18, additional information may emerge through a family obituary, funeral-home notice or statement from relatives. Until such information is independently confirmed, his parents, siblings and other relatives should not be identified based on unverified social-media posts or unrelated records.
Career and Education
No reliable source reviewed for this report provides confirmed information about Dorsey’s occupation, school, college plans or career.
Those details may become available if his family publishes an obituary or memorial notice. At present, adding an unverified school or employment history would risk confusing Dorsey with another person who has the same or a similar name.
Age and Date of Birth
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identifies Zadarious Dorsey as 18 years old. The agency’s October 3 statement does not provide his exact date of birth.
Religion
Dorsey’s religious affiliation has not been reliably established in the sources reviewed. No religious identification should be assumed from an obituary listing, social-media account or community association unless it can be confirmed.
Spouse, Partner or Children
There is no verified public information in the sources reviewed identifying a spouse, partner or children for Zadarious Dorsey. Given his age and the limited information released after the shooting, these details remain unconfirmed.
Parents and Siblings
The names of Dorsey’s parents and siblings have not been publicly confirmed by the GBI or the major news reports reviewed for this article. Future family statements may provide a fuller picture of his life.
Height and Personal Details
Dorsey’s height, weight and other physical characteristics have not been reliably reported by the authoritative sources reviewed. These details are therefore not included as facts.
Funeral and Memorial Arrangements
No verified funeral or memorial arrangements were available in the sources reviewed as of October 4, 2026. The GBI said Dorsey’s body would be taken to its Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
Families often announce visitation and funeral information through a funeral home or obituary publication. Any such announcement should be checked against a reliable source before being reported as confirmed.
Zadarious Dorsey Obituary Quick Facts
| Full Name | Zadarious Dorsey |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 |
| Hometown | Newnan, Georgia |
| Date of Incident | October 3, 2026 |
| Approximate Time | About 1 a.m. |
| Location | Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia |
| Incident | Officer-involved shooting |
| Police Agency | Newnan Police Department |
| Investigating Agency | Georgia Bureau of Investigation |
| Cause of Death | Injuries sustained in the shooting, according to the GBI’s preliminary account |
| Autopsy | GBI Medical Examiner’s Office |
| Funeral Details | Not publicly confirmed as of October 4, 2026 |
| Investigation Status | Active and ongoing |
Reader Questions
Who was Zadarious Dorsey?
Zadarious Dorsey was an 18-year-old Newnan, Georgia, resident who died following an officer-involved shooting on October 3, 2026. The GBI is conducting an independent investigation into the incident.
What happened to Zadarious Dorsey?
According to the GBI, Dorsey ran from a Newnan police officer during a foot pursuit and was shot after the officer said he saw Dorsey pull a gun from his waistband. Dorsey received medical aid and was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
How old was Zadarious Dorsey?
Zadarious Dorsey was 18 years old. The GBI confirmed his age in its October 3, 2026 statement.
Where did Zadarious Dorsey die?
The GBI said Dorsey was taken to an area hospital after being shot and later died from his injuries. The agency did not identify the hospital by name in its initial release.
What was Zadarious Dorsey’s cause of death?
The preliminary account says Dorsey died from injuries sustained after the officer shot him multiple times. An autopsy is being conducted through the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office.
Was Zadarious Dorsey armed?
The GBI says the officer saw Dorsey pull a gun from his waistband during the foot pursuit, and a gun was recovered at the scene. Those details are part of the agency’s preliminary account while the investigation remains ongoing.
Is the Newnan police shooting still under investigation?
Yes. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said its investigation is active and ongoing. The completed case will be forwarded to the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
Has Zadarious Dorsey’s funeral been announced?
No verified funeral or memorial announcement was available in the sources reviewed as of October 4, 2026. Readers should rely on a family announcement or funeral-home notice for confirmed arrangements.
Wrap-Up
Zadarious Dorsey’s death has become the subject of an active investigation after a Newnan police officer shot the 18-year-old during a foot pursuit early October 3, 2026. The GBI says the officer had attempted to stop Dorsey, deployed a Taser that was ineffective and then fired after allegedly seeing Dorsey pull a gun. Dorsey was taken to a hospital but later died.
The most important point at this stage is that the GBI’s account is preliminary. The independent investigation, autopsy and subsequent review by the Coweta Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office are expected to provide additional information about the shooting.
For readers searching for a full obituary, the public record currently contains limited information about Dorsey’s personal life. Details about his family, education, career and funeral arrangements should be added only when they are confirmed by relatives, an official obituary or another reliable source.
