Unidentified man
What happened
Atlanta police were called at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018 to the 600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, near the Atlanta University Center, where a man was found on a bridge over the road. Drivers stopped at the scene, and one recorded video that spread quickly online.
Investigators canvassed the area and said one person reported hearing someone yell "don't do it." The next day, a police spokesman said no foul play was indicated and that investigators believed the death was a suicide. Police described the man as Black and in his mid to late 20s. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office hadn't yet notified next of kin, and his name wasn't released.
The video drew a large and angry response online, with many people rejecting the suicide account and calling for a fuller investigation. No identification, family statement or medical examiner ruling has been reported publicly since, and the case stands where police left it in April 2018.
The case
- Where found
- Bridge over Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near the Atlanta University Center
- Official finding
- Pending. Atlanta police said the next day that no foul play was indicated and that investigators believed it was a suicide. No medical examiner ruling has been reported publicly.
- Investigation
- Atlanta Police canvassed the area and said one person reported hearing someone yell "don't do it." The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office hadn't been able to notify next of kin, and his name wasn't released in the coverage found.
- Family position
- Not publicly stated.
- Public evidence
- A passing driver recorded video at the scene that circulated widely online, and many people publicly rejected the suicide account. Police described the man as Black and in his mid to late 20s (Atlanta Black Star).
- Federal review
- None reported
- Last verified
- 2026-11-14
Sources
Record history
- Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed updateRecord updated
- Verification note: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's report doesn't state his race. Atlanta Black Star reported that police described him as a Black man in his mid to late 20s; he hasn't been publicly identified. Police have made only a preliminary statement, and no ruling has been announced.
- Oct 27, 2026 · Reviewed updateCase added
- Name: Unidentified man
- Date found: 2018-04-27
- City or county: Atlanta
- State: GA
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
- Where found: Bridge over Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near the Atlanta University Center
- Official finding: Pending. Atlanta police said the next day that no foul play was indicated and that investigators believed it was a suicide. No medical examiner ruling has been reported publicly.
- Investigation: Atlanta Police canvassed the area and said one person reported hearing someone yell "don't do it." The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office hadn't been able to notify next of kin, and his name wasn't released in the coverage found.
- Family position: Not publicly stated.
- Public evidence: A passing driver recorded video at the scene that circulated widely online, and many people publicly rejected the suicide account. Police described the man as Black and in his mid to late 20s (Atlanta Black Star).
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Apr. 28, 2018) reports the police account and doesn't state race. Atlanta Black Star (Apr. 29, 2018) reports that police believed the man was Black and in his mid to late 20s; that's a police description, not a confirmed identification. Status is open because only a preliminary police statement was found, with no announced ruling; the reviewer may prefer ruled if a police suicide statement counts.
- Sources updated