La’Andre Thomas — a 27-year-old former defensive back for the Memphis Tigers — was shot by law enforcement Thursday in Sandy Springs, Georgia and later died at a nearby hospital, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed.
According to the GBI, officers were called around 10:30 a.m. on December 4 after a 911 caller reported that a man had assaulted a woman walking her dog. Officers reviewed nearby video footage and located a man matching the description — Thomas — at a MARTA bus stop near the 8000 block of Dunwoody Place. The GBI says Thomas approached the officers and began talking with them. During that conversation, he pulled a handgun from his waistband. In response, one officer fired, striking Thomas. No officers were injured.
Paramedics rushed Thomas to a local hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition. Later that day, hospital staff pronounced him dead.
Thomas was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and played for the Memphis Tigers from 2017 to 2019. In his final season, he recorded 60 tackles and started 14 games, including appearances in the Cotton Bowl.
The GBI has launched an independent investigation. Once complete, the case will be forwarded to the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for review. Meanwhile, the GBI said Thomas’s body will be turned over to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
As friends, former teammates, and community members process the news of Thomas’s death, many are reflecting on how quickly a routine call escalated into tragedy. The investigation by GBI promises more clarity in the days ahead.
