Kenny A. Johnson, Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, tragically passed away on Tuesday after delivering testimony during a public hearing at the Georgia Capitol. Johnson had been speaking before state legislators about the recent BioLab chemical fire that occurred on September 29.
The hearing, held in Room 606 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, was attended by members of the House and Senate Rockdale County Legislative Delegations, the House Minority Caucus, and the DeKalb County Legislative Delegation. The meeting was called to hear from those impacted by the BioLab fire, including citizens, business owners, and employees.
According to witnesses, Johnson approached the microphone, testified, and then, after leaving the room, collapsed in the hallway. State Representative Viola Davis, a nurse, rushed to administer CPR, while paramedics were called to transport Johnson to Grady Hospital. Despite these efforts, Johnson was later pronounced dead, with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirming his passing.
Johnson’s testimony had been passionate, with a focus on the dangers posed by BioLab’s operations in Rockdale County. “When he stood at the microphone, he said that he was trying to catch his breath,” said State Representative Doreen Carter. “He was very passionate about the information he was sharing concerning BioLab. It was shocking to learn that he didn’t make it. What a tragedy.”
During his testimony, Johnson urged the legislative panel to take action against BioLab, calling for the plant to be shut down due to the toxic chemicals, including sulfuric acid, stored there. He also urged residents of Rockdale to undergo blood tests and demanded a federal criminal investigation into the company’s practices.
Johnson’s sudden death has left the community in shock, and his calls for accountability in the aftermath of the BioLab fire will undoubtedly remain a critical issue for local and state officials.
Further investigations into his passing and the impact of the chemical fire are ongoing.
