He was taken to WellStar West Georgia Medical Center but was pronounced dead on arrival. Thornton is described as an African American male.

Law enforcement identified Mario Alonzo Fannin as a suspect and located him on Juniper Street in LaGrange in the early hours of March 21, 2022. Fannin was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime; investigators said witness statements and surveillance footage were among the evidence cited in the case. The community was left awaiting further legal developments.