Use Of Force Probed After Man Tased, Dies By Suicide In DeKalb: GBI

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA — State authorities are investigating a use-of-force incident after they say a man who was tased by DeKalb County Police died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The incident happened around 4:45 a.m. Sunday near Lancashire Circle, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

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Officers responded to an armed carjacking when they found a car matching the description given in a report, the GBI said.

As an officer approached the car, the GBI said 20-year-old Stone Mountain resident Vermontay Burch got out and ran.

The officer then chased Burch into an Eagle Springs Way apartment complex, the GBI said. The officer deployed a taser and hit Burch, the GBI said.

Soon after, the officer heard a gunshot and found Burch on the ground with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Medical aid was provided to Burch, but the GBI said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was taken to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

Once the GBI's investigation is complete, the case file will be turned over to the DeKalb Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review.