Why did police shoot former Memphis Tigers football player? Officer shooting in Georgia leaves La’Andre Thomas dead

La’Andre Thomas, a former Memphis Tigers football defensive back, died after a police shooting in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on Thursday, December 4, 2025. He was 27 years old and from Jackson, Mississippi. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said he was shot by an officer after a reported assault call in the area that morning.La’Andre Thomas played college football for the University of Memphis from 2017 to 2019. Memphis Athletics records show he appeared in 30 games for the Tigers and started all 14 games in 2019, when he made 63 total tackles. Former teammates and fans online have been sharing old photos and messages, remembering him as a tough player and a quiet teammate who loved football.According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, officers from the Sandy Springs Police Department were called to Dunwoody Place in Sandy Springs, Georgia, around 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025. A woman told officers that a man had assaulted her while she was walking her dog in the area. The GBI said officers checked security cameras nearby and later identified La’Andre Thomas as the man seen in the video. A short time later, Sandy Springs officers approached La’Andre Thomas at a bus stop close to where the assault was reported.Investigators said that while officers were speaking with La’Andre Thomas, he pulled a handgun from his waistband. At that moment, one officer fired his weapon and shot La’Andre Thomas. The GBI said officers then called for medical help, and La’Andre Thomas was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was afterward declared dead at the hospital. La'Andre Thomas's body will be turned over to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office in Georgia for autopsy, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said it would give its results to the local district attorney once the probe into the shooting is finished.It is now conducting an independent inquiry. People in Memphis have also been reflecting back on his days with the Tigers. Memphis Athletics reports indicate that an injury limited La'Andre Thomas to four games in 2018; nevertheless, he still concluded his college career strong in 2019. Many inside the program are now eager to know more about the incident in Georgia and the course the case will take.Also Read: “White House Is On”: Conor McGregor Calls Out Islam Makhachev As He Aims For The UFC 170-Pound Welterweight Belt Next