ATLANTA, GA — A murder suspect from Illinois is dead after authorities say he fatally climbed over a balcony railing and fell to the road in Atlanta.
The incident happened when the Fulton County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team responded around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday to an apartment in the 1300 block of Chattahoochee Avenue NW, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.
The sheriff's office was called to assist the U.S. Marshals Service with locating Genesis Denton, 32, of Chicago, the GBI said. Authorities identified Denton as the subject of an out-of-state murder warrant.
When deputies knocked on the apartment door, the GBI said Denton went to a sliding door leading to an outside balcony.
Deputies who were outside the building fired less-lethal munitions toward the balcony door in efforts to keep Denton inside the apartment, the GBI said.
Denton was then accused of going onto the balcony, climbing over the railing and falling onto the road. He was pronounced dead at the scene, the GBI said.
His body was taken to the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. An official cause of death was not revealed.
The GBI is investigating the case as an in-custody death, the agency said.
Once the GBI's investigation is completed, the case file will be given to the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for review.
Denton was sought in connection with the deadly shooting of Emmanuel Easley on Feb. 4, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
He was 31-years-old when police said he was robbed in a mall parking lot after returning to his car. Police accused Denton of then chasing the getaway vehicle onto the interstate and shooting at it.
The vehicle crashed into a tree near the Interstate 65 entrance ramp after the shooting, CBS News reported.
Police say Easley was fatally wounded during the incident.
Additionally, police added the passenger of the Tesla was identified as the man who robbed Denton. He faced state and federal charges in connection with the incident, police said.
A $5,000 reward from Crime Stoppers was offered in the case.
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