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Man who drowned after fleeing traffic stop in Rockdale County identified

By
Updated  April 16, 2025 9:38am EDT
Rockdale County
FOX 5 Atlanta

The Brief

    • A man drowned in Salem Lake after fleeing from a traffic stop and entering the water during a police chase.
    • Emergency crews suspended the search due to low visibility and unsafe conditions, resuming efforts after sunrise with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
    • The man's body was recovered around 7 p.m.; he was identified on April 16.

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. - The body of a man who ran from a traffic stop in Rockdale County was found in a lake, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

It happened at around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday near the intersection of Old Salem Road and Underwood Road.

What we know:

The man took off running from a traffic stop with the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office. They said he entered the lake in the Salem Lake Community and swam across to get away.

The deputies chasing him said they lost sight of him.

Due to limited visibility at the time, the search was paused until daybreak.

Game wardens joined the Rockdale County Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services to take over, using side scan radar on the lake. That's how they eventually found and recovered his body at 7 p.m.

On April 16, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office identified the deceased as Shawn Murphy. No other information was given.

The Source: This preliminary information was provided by Georgia's Department of Natural Resources and confirmed by the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office.

Rockdale CountyCrime and Public SafetyNews