(Updated on 01/31/2025 @ 12:40 p.m. Fulton County medical examiner has now ruled on Taylor’s cause of death)
The family of the homeless man killed by an Atlanta City Public Works truck is demanding policy change on how the city handles homelessness. Cornelius Taylor was killed during a city mandated encampment clean-out, according to 11 Alive. His death has sparked outraged within the city.
The incident occurred on Jan. 16, just days before Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In fact, some activists have accused the city of prompting the clean-outs because of the upcoming holiday, according to Fox News. City officials have reportedly denied these claims.
“Cornelius Taylor died because of failure of city policy,” community activist Derrick Boazman said during a protest on the steps of City Hall, according to WSB-TV. According to witnesses on the scene, a garbage truck ran over Taylor while he was sleeping in his tent. He was later taken to the hospital where he died, according to officials.
A Fulton County medical examiner ruled Taylor died from “blunt force injuries of the abdomen and pelvis.” This statement contradicts an Atlanta Police Department report previously suggesting the victim could have suffered from an overdose at the time of the incident, resulting in his death.
The Jan. 18 autopsy reported Taylor “suffered a split pelvis and lacerations to his spleen and liver after being struck by a front loader on Jan. 16,” according to 11 Alive. The police report from the fatal incident failed to note this, instead stating the victim had only a bleeding nose and “no obvious signs of physical hurt.”
In a statement made by the City of Atlanta Department of Public Works (DPW), they said “Our department routinely clears encampments that pose health and public safety concerns, always following days of outreach to connect unsheltered individuals with housing and support services.”
Since Taylor’s death, several community activists and politicians have expressed their disappointed and disbelief at how Atlanta’s homeless population is being treated.
“There has to be a change in how we handle homelessness,” City Councilwoman Lilliana Bakhtiari said during a council meeting. “It is not working. It has not been working.” Additionally, the councilwoman called on officials to halt future encampment clean-outs until the city fully investigates Taylor’s death. “You don’t sweep encampments; you house them,” Bakhtiari continued. “Cornelius Taylor deserved to be housed. Housing is a human right.”
During a recent rally for Taylor, his family expressed they had a demand letter they wanted to personally give to Atlanta Mayor Dickens. According to them, police prevented this from happening. The mayor’s office said the family refused to give the letter to a representative, reported 11 Alive.
The mayor spoke on Taylor’s death in a statement saying, “I am saddened by this terrible incident and extend my thoughts and prayers to the family of the deceased. I care deeply about each and every life in this city.” He then promised to review and investigate “processes and procedures... to ensure this never happens again.”