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| Friends and neighbors say the man killed was named Cornelius Taylor but his nickname was "Psycho." |
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Shock, Grief After a Man is Killed During an "Encampment Sweep" in Atlanta
WABE
Sat January 18, 2025
ATLANTA, Georgia - Advocates are expressing grief and outrage after a man was killed during the clearing of a homeless encampment in Atlanta.
The man’s name was Cornelius Taylor, according to his friends and neighbors, but he often went by “Psycho.” He stayed among the tents along Old Wheat Street in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood, near Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The city hasn’t confirmed details of what happened Thursday afternoon. Atlanta Police said their homicide unit is investigating. But those still staying along the street Friday afternoon said workers brought their bulldozer through without checking the tents.
“I was here and nobody warned anybody. Not even the people who was doing the job,” said William Franklin.
Sylvia Broome, who does outreach in the neighborhood with the nonprofit Remerge, held back tears as she revisited the street Friday afternoon. She said she’d known Taylor for several years. She said he had a good heart and liked to draw.
She said just earlier this week she was talking with him about his upcoming plans.
“He had dreams, ambitions, he had family, he was a good, good friend of mine and he’s gone,” Broome said.
She called for the city to conduct a full investigation into what went wrong.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement that he is saddened by the incident. He said the city will review its procedures, so it doesn’t happen again.
“I care deeply about each and every life in this city,” Dickens said in the statement.
According to Partners for Home, the nonprofit charged with leading the city’s homelessness strategy, outreach workers have been visiting the encampment since April of last year. She said 21 people had been connected with shelter or housing.
CEO Cathryn Vassell also said she was “deeply saddened by the tragic incident.”
“Our focus remains helping individuals experiencing homelessness find stable housing and access the resources they need,” she said in a statement.
Along Old Wheat Street, Taylor’s former neighbors were still in shock at what took place. Anthony Richardson said he was just lucky he wasn’t around at the time of the encampment sweep.
“I was just devastated because I was right behind him. If I was there, it could have been me,” Richardson said.
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