As explained in prior press releases by this office, the District Attorney has met with the maternal and paternal sides of the family of Zadarious Dorsey, who was shot and killed by a Newnan Police Department officer on October 3, 2026, and disclosed to the family evidence relating to this case, including the subject officer’s body-worn camera video. In our October 9, 2026 press release, the District Attorney’s Office explained: “It is the intention of the DA to release the evidence shown to the family, as well as the DA’s presentation and timeline, after the GBI Medical Examiner has completed his Autopsy Report, which the DA’s Office expects to receive within the month.” At the time of this release, the completion of the Autopsy Report remains in progress at the GBI Crime Lab, however, the Medical Examiner’s Office has already provided the DA’s Office the autopsy photographs.
While the GBI investigation proceeds, the District Attorney has contracted with a professional videographer to prepare a version of the body-worn camera video that does not depict Dorsey suffering, as requested by his family, but does include the audio of the full recording. While the body-worn camera video is being prepared for public release, the District Attorney discloses with this press release the following: (1) Instagram records showing that a photograph of the firearm found at the crime scene was sent to Dorsey on September 26, 2026, (2) a timeline created by the DA’s Office, (3) frame-by-frame screenshots from the footage of the body-worn camera of the officer who shot Dorsey, and (4) four autopsy photos that reveal the location of Dorsey’s gunshot wounds. This evidence can be accessed at the following OneDrive link:
https://pacgaorg-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/hcranford_pacga_org/IgBIHr3vaYArRoi0U0LGW-yUAeA71hCodOKnLa245YLNVhc?e=cyVnYY
Regarding the firearm: On October 28, 2026, the District Attorney’s Office obtained records from Meta Platforms, Inc. associated with Zadarious Dorsey’s Instagram account. These records were obtained in search of evidence of the gun found 42 feet from Dorsey’s body, and they included a photograph of four firearms sent to Dorsey’s account on September 26, 2026, approximately one week prior to the shooting. One of the firearms in that photo distinctly matches the appearance of the firearm located at the crime scene on which Dorsey’s DNA was found. Additionally, the photo of firearms was sent to Dorsey’s Instagram account by an account associated with one of the other occupants of the vehicle that Dorsey exited on October 3, 2026 prior to the shooting. While the DA’s Office declines to release the name of this person at this time, he was interviewed by the GBI and acknowledged being in the rear of the vehicle along with Dorsey before the shooting. A photograph of the firearm taken at the crime scene, and the photograph of the identical firearm sent to Dorsey’s Instagram on September 26, 2026 are available at the above OneDrive link.
Regarding the timeline: The above-linked timeline, created by the DA’s Office based on the available evidence, includes the following information:
- The vehicle occupied by Dorsey pulls into Cliff Circle at 1:10:44 a.m. and the officer pulls in at
1:11:00 a.m. - At 1:12:54 a.m., the officer tells Dorsey to “stop,” and Dorsey begins to flee on foot with the officer
in pursuit. - At 1:13:10 a.m., the officer turns on his body-worn camera, at 1:13:30 the officer says, “stop Dae
Dae,” and at 1:13:40 a.m., the officer deploys his taser. - At 1:13:45 a.m., the officer says, “drop the gun, drop the gun,” and at 1:13:46 a.m., the officer fires
his weapon six times. - At 1:14:18 a.m., the officer who shot Dorsey radios for emergency medical services.
Regarding frame-by-frame images of the officer’s body-worn camera: While our office awaits the
Autopsy Report and our professional videographer prepares the body-worn camera video for release, the
District Attorney has decided to disclose to the public frame-by-frame still shots of the six seconds prior to
and including the first gunshot fired at Dorsey. The body-worn camera video of the officer who shot and
killed Dorsey has a duration of approximately 43 minutes. The officer’s body-worn camera recorded 30
frames per second, such that 180 frames show six seconds of footage. Included in the above OneDrive link
are 211 slides from the DA’s presentation of the evidence, which include 180 frames numbered in
chronological order, starting at 1:13:41 a.m. and concluding with the entirety of 1:13:46 a.m.
In addition to 180 unedited frame-by-frame images, the DA’s Office has included slides that provide some
explanation regarding these images and has duplicated some frames with highlights and labels. For
example, in frames 18 – 42, images of the red laser from the taser are highlighted. Frame 122 is one of the
clearer images of Dorsey running from the officer, which is emphasized here so that Dorsey’s image is
easier to identify in other frames. Frames 103 and 105 depict an object in Dorsey’s right hand that is
consistent with the image of a firearm. Frames 123 – 130 show the officer pointing his firearm at Dorsey.
Frame 164 shows the muzzle flash of the first gunshot fired at Dorsey by the officer. In frame 163, Dorsey
appears to have turned his right shoulder back toward the officer, but it is unclear whether Dorsey has
anything in his right hand.
Regarding the autopsy photographs: The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office has informed the DA’s Office
that Dorsey sustained six gunshot wounds. Included in the above OneDrive link are four autopsy
photographs that show the locations of these wounds. The District Attorney’s Office cropped and censored
these photographs to show as little of Dorsey as possible while still providing enough context to show the
location of the gunshot wounds.
The autopsy photos show one gunshot wound to Dorsey’s right chest which exited his back, one gunshot
wound to his right hip, and four gunshot wounds to his legs. As shown on pdf page 193 of 211 of the frameby-
frame images of the body-worn camera, the gunshot wound to Dorsey’s right chest is consistent with
being caused by the first gunshot fired, as seen in frame 164.
All of the above information was presented to the paternal side of Dorsey’s family in a meeting with the
District Attorney on November 3rd and to the family’s civil lawyers in a meeting earlier today. The District
Attorney’s Office will continue to offer updates on the case as the investigation develops.
JOHN HERBERT CRANFORD, JR.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
COWETA JUDICIAL CIRCUIT