A 24-year-old man died Friday after being stunned by three police officers’ Tasers following a music festival in Henry County, authorities said.
The GBI is investigating the use of force and whether it contributed to the man’s death.
Fernando Rodriguez was confronted by police after leaving the Imagine Music Festival at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Channel 2 Action News reported.
It’s unclear what led to the confrontation, but Hampton police said they were dispatched to Oak Street about 10 p.m. after someone called 911 to report that Rodriguez had taken his clothes off.
“When Hampton officers approached Rodriguez, he became combative,” said Nelly Miles, spokeswoman for the GBI.
Authorities said Rodriguez continued resisting when Henry County police arrived on scene, prompting three officers — two from Hampton and one from Henry County — to use their Tasers.
“Multiple officers Tased him,” Miles said. “He did go into medical distress. 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.”
The encounter was reportedly witnessed by several people, including a woman who recorded it and streamed it on her Facebook page, according to Channel 2.
The GBI is reviewing body camera footage from the officers involved in the incident and conducting an autopsy, police said.
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