ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - According to an incident report from the Albany Police Department (APD), the death of Michael McConnel, who was found unresponsive in the 100 block of S. West Road in Albany, is now being investigated as a homicide.

APD says officers were called to the S. West Road area at around 8:07 a.m. on Nov. 29, after a passerby reported finding the man on the roadside. According to the incident report, “Due to tire marks on the ground, it initially appeared the male was involved in a hit-and-run auto accident.”

After Dougherty County Coroner, Michael Fowler arrived on scene, he and the investigator with APD “Observed Michael had an open wound to his abdomen area. Michael Fowler (Coroner) advised the wound appeared to be a stab wound and that Michael may have been standing prior to the attack.”

According to the report, McConnel’s family told police he did not often walk alongside the road, and that he had a vehicle. The investigator attempted to locate McConnel’s vehicle at his home, but was unsuccessful. The investigator then used the FLOCK and Condor camera systems to track McConnel’s vehicle’s movements.

The next day, Nov. 30, McConnel’s GMC Yukon was spotted in Tifton. According to the APD report, the Tifton Police Department (TPD) attempted a vehicle stop, “resulting in a chase in which a white male fled from the GMC Yukon. Tifton PD was unable to locate the suspect but secured the vehicle at their department.”

After further reviewing photos and the scene, APD forwarded the case to their Robbery-Homicide Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (229) 436-TIPS, APD at (229) 431-2100 or report an anonymous tip to the APD app.

We working to get the incident report from the TPD regarding the chase. Stay with us.

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