In the late hours of a Saturday night in Calhoun, Georgia, a tragic incident unfolded in the parking lot of a local Kroger, leaving a family and community to mourn the unexpected loss of Michael Lee Rhodes. A 41-year-old White male, Rhodes was known by those who loved him for his passion for the outdoors, often spending his time hunting, fishing, and camping. He was also an avid fan of both the Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Bulldogs.
On the evening of February 20, 2021, just after 11 p.m., emergency services were dispatched to the Kroger on West Belmont Drive following a report of a man with a gunshot wound. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Michael Lee Rhodes lying on the ground next to a gray Nissan Pathfinder, bleeding from a single gunshot wound to his left thigh. Several people were gathered around him, and an officer immediately began to render first aid in an attempt to control the bleeding until paramedics could take over.
Despite the swift response of emergency personnel, Rhodes succumbed to his injury. An investigation into the shooting determined that it was the result of an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound from a gun he had on his person. Authorities at the scene began questioning six witnesses to piece together the moments that led to the fatal incident.
Born in Whitfield County on December 30, 1979, Michael Lee Rhodes was a forklift driver for Nourison Industries at the time of his death. His sudden passing left behind his wife, Krystin Rhodes, three children, and a large extended family who remembered him as a man who deeply loved his family. His death was a stark reminder of a life cut short by a tragic accident.
