La’Andre Thomas, 27, a former Memphis Tigers defensive back and the father of a toddler, was shot and killed by a police officer in Sandy Springs on December 4, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says.
He passed away after suffering gunshot wounds while he was taken to the nearby hospital.
The GBI has opened a full criminal inquiry and is reviewing body camera footage, nearby security video, and witness statements to determine exactly what happened.
According to the GBI, Sandy Springs officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a woman was assaulted while walking her dog.
Investigators reviewed the area video, identified the former Memphis Player, and later approached him at a nearby bus stop.
The state agency reports that, during a conversation with officers, Thomas allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband, and an officer then fired.
The GBI describes these details as alleged pending the outcome of its review.
Thomas was a standout at Wingfield High School in Mississippi. He helped lead the team to the MHSAA 5A state playoffs and earned MHSAA 5A All-State First Team honors.
He committed to the University of Memphis and played for the Tigers from 2017 through 2019.
During his time at Memphis, he recorded 80 tackles, two interceptions, including a pick-six, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Coaches and teammates remember him as a physical, hard-working player who pushed others to improve and left a legacy among everyone he touched.
They also remember the kid off the field who showed up for neighborhood kids, family dinners, and community events.
The shooting and its aftermath have left the family demanding privacy and sensitivity.
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Mother Seeks Community Support
Lavesha Jackson, the mother of Thomas’s daughter, wrote, “I can’t tell anyone on the internet what to do, but respectfully, please allow my daughter’s father to rest in peace and let this remain free of unnecessary drama”.
“Everyone else has had the space to process their own grief; meanwhile, I’m guiding a child through losing her father. That deserves respect and sensitivity. My only priority right now is our daughter,” she added.
Jackson later posted that she is not okay, asked for prayers, and said she removed a GoFundMe for investigative reasons.
Thomas’s mother, Toya Turner, posted a tribute image of him alongside family members, honoring him as a son and a father.
An aunt, Devorah Patriziea, asked the public to keep the family in their prayers and to give them strength in the days ahead.
Friends and neighbors poured their condolences into social feeds.
Danyelle Jefferson urged the family to lean on faith, writing, There are no words that you really want to hear right now and as a mother, I cannot fathom the hurt you are feeling I am praying for you, Toya Turner, and my sincere condolences to you and your family.
Zina Short wrote, losing a child is a pain no parent should ever have to face. I am praying that God holds you close, comforts your spirit, and gives you the strength to get through each moment.
Kandiikat Thomas posted a long tribute recalling backyard basketball, fishing trips, sleepovers, school runs, and family dinners, calling La’Andre like a son and brother and promising he would be missed.
Savonta Johnson wrote, “You all just don’t understand the pain for real this man meant so much to us, to the community im forever grateful for the memories we shared long nights crying together dawg you really one of them ones fr pushed me in so many ways not only on the field but as to be a better person love you brother your name will never die long as im alive I promise.”
Other short tributes kept coming. Joel Sinclair wrote, Love you all. Michelle Dear said, My heart breaks for you.
A detail that broke many hearts was what Thomas’s young daughter, Laila, said after relatives told her about her father.
She prayed and then said, “Good Dad, I love you. If I die, I will see you.
Family members say those words are being replayed in private messages and group chats as a raw reminder of the human cost of the shooting.
The GBI review will examine whether the officer’s actions complied with state law and departmental policy.
Investigators will review the timeline of the 911 call, the body camera footage, the security video that helped identify Thomas, and witness statements.
The state review will determine whether criminal charges or departmental actions are appropriate.
Until that review is complete, the sequence of events remains described as alleged and may change.
For people who knew him, legal questions are secondary to immediate needs.
Relatives and teammates are organizing support for Laila, asking for privacy, and sharing memories of a young man they say was taken too soon.
Coaches at Wingfield and Memphis have offered to help the family and to hold space for the child while investigators do their work.
This case also feeds broader debates about policing and the use of force in civilian encounters.
Those policy discussions will play out publicly as evidence is reviewed and officials weigh next steps. Meanwhile, for Thomas’s family and friends, the focus is simple and direct.
Protect the child. Respect the grieving family. Let the facts come out through the investigation.
In the days ahead, the community will keep supporting Laila, keeping Thomas’s memory alive with stories, prayers, and practical help as they wait for the GBI findings.
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