Horse found dead along busy street in Atlanta, Georgia ten days after being bought at auction

Friday, April 11, 2025 

On Sunday, a horse named Flash was found dead after presumably collapsing on a sidewalk along a busy street in the downtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, US. A video posted to social media appeared to show the animal void of motion near an ATM for Unity National Bank located at the intersection of Peachtree Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, while spectators passed by in shock and astoundment.

Jon Birdsong, the owner of the building where the horse was found, stated that authorities attempted to give the horse food and water in an attempt to save it, placing a white tarp over it.

The Atlanta Police Department assured the public that it was "aware of the unfortunate incident," after receiving 911 calls at 4:27 a.m. UTC Sunday. One caller told police they had witnessed "multiple males" horseback riding through the area earlier in the night. According to Fox 5 Atlanta, the horse was still laying on the sidewalk at 3:15 p.m. UCT, nearly eleven hours later.

Police worked jointly with the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department to remove the horse's body. Authorities further advised the public to avoid the area in which the horse's body was found in order to ensure it was removed in a "safe and respectful" manner.

The Atlanta Police Department stated that they had identified and notified the horse's owner, who expressed belief that the horse may have suffered some sort of "medical emergency." It was later stated by Birdsong that the horse was purchased at auction only ten days prior, though as of Monday, it was not immediately clear why the owner brought a horse into downtown Atlanta.

Laurie Wilson, a professional horse trainer based in Cobb County, Georgia, said: “I find it very unusual to see any horse in downtown Atlanta, much less that situation. [...] I saw nothing as far nothing as from a neglect standpoint. The horse looked very taken care of. [...] It is weird that it happened in downtown Atlanta, and then the horse is left laying here with no equipment."

No further information was released in regard to how long the horse's body had been there, or the manner in which it died. A local real estate company indicated that they were reviewing security camera footage available to them to help answer questions regarding the horse's death, with help from the city's agricultural department and animal control center. As of Monday, no criminal charges had been filed in relation to the horse's death.

An auction in Tennessee, had been seen in videos of individuals riding horses during the city's 404 Day festivities. However, it is unclear if this event was related to the incident.

The original statement made by police says that they were called about the horse at 12:27 a.m. local time on Sunday. The horse was still on the sidewalk as of 11:15 a.m. local time.

• Adam Murphy. "Questions remain after dead horse found in downtown Atlanta" — Atlanta News First, April 7, 2025
• Judayah Murray. "Horse collapses, dies on downtown Atlanta sidewalk" — Fox 5 Atlanta, April 6, 2024
• "Police say a dead horse has been found along a busy roadway in downtown Atlanta" — AP, April 6, 2025
• "‘Respectful removal:’ APD, fire department working to safely move dead horse from street" — WSBTV.com, April 6, 2025
• "Dead horse left on sidewalk in downtown Atlanta" — Atlanta News First, April 6, 2025
• "Police say a dead horse has been found along a busy roadway in downtown Atlanta" — ABC News, April 6, 2025