The 48-year-old died after being Tasered by police while vi siting his father's home in Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford, Shropshire, at around 1.30am
Ernest Atkinson, 85, reportedly said his son was agitated, while neighbour Paula Quinn said the retired footballer appeared to be "almost staggering" in the street before he was Tasered.
Former managers and team-mates of Atkinson have paid tribute to him and old club Villa will hold a minute's applause in the 10th minute of their Sky Bet Championship match against Huddersfield tonight
A club statement read: "Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the death of our former striker Dalian Atkinson
Dalian undoubtedly provided real memorable moments during his time in claret and blue."
West Mercia Police said officers were called on Monday morning amid concerns "for the safety of an individual" and then deployed the stun guns
An ambulance was called, but Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on the way to hospital and medics were unable to save him
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating his death.
Ron Atkinson, who managed the forward at Sheffield Wednesday and at Villa, told Press Association Sport: "He always had a smile on his face - and played football with a smile on his face
"He was popular in the dressing room, had terrific ability and did it in the big games
I signed him at Sheffield Wednesday and when I joined Villa he was one of the first players I wanted to bring in
It's tragic."
Former Wednesday strike partner David Hirst, who played with Atkinson during the 1989-90 season, has spoken of his shock and sadness at the news.
"It's a very sad day and a massive shock," Hirst told Press Association Sport
"This is not the news you want to be seeing
I saw the news and was thinking they had surely got it wrong
That should not happen."
Atkinson was a top-flight striker in the 1990s, and was famed for a goal for Villa against Wimbledon which followed a run from inside his own half
It was voted goal of the season in 1992-93
He went on to score at Wembley in 1994 as Villa beat Manchester United to lift the League Cup
He played for Ipswich, Wednesday and Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa, scoring 38 goals between 1991 and 1995, and also featured for Turkish side Fenerbahce and Manchester City
He ended his playing career in South Korea in 2001
On Tuesday, Villa fans wanted to bring in umbrellas as a tribute after one supporter celebrated Atkinson's goal at Wimbledon by running onto the pitch and shielding him from the rain with a brolly
But the club will not allow fans to bring in their own due to health and safety issues
Several designated members of the club's fan squad will instead hold up umbrellas around the stadium in the 10th minute to commemorate the celebration of Atkinson's life.
Source : PA
Source: PA