On Friday, the two Georgia sheriff’s officers who were shot and murdered while serving an arrest warrant were named.
Cobb County Sheriff’s Deputies Marshall Ervin, Jr. and Jonathan Koleski were slain Thursday while detaining a suspect sought for theft at a residence in the Marietta area, according to the sheriff’s office.
Suspects Christopher Cook and Christopher Golden were apprehended after a nearly four-hour confrontation with law authorities. Cook was accused with stealing, while Golden was accused with aggravated assault on an officer and murder.
Ervin Jr., a father of two, joined the sheriff’s department in 2012. Koleski, 42, was a veteran of the United States Army who joined the sheriff’s office in 2007.
They were excellent guys, men of character and integrity, family men who were adored by their families and children, Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens said during a press conference.
The sheriff’s office and the families of the victims are in grief.
Here in Cobb County, their hearts are crushed, the sheriff stated. It’s a heartbreaking night for two families, two ladies who have lost amazing spouses.
The deputies were executing a warrant at the residence at 7:45 p.m. Thursday when they were ambushed, according to Owens.
Officers knocked on the door and rang the doorbell, according to Owens, but no one replied. As the officers were walking back to their patrol car, a vehicle pulled up and somebody started firing on them.
It’s unknown if both accused were in the car when the shooting started.
According to the sheriff, the deputies were able to notify dispatchers of the shooting.
A confrontation developed between the culprits and law authorities, and Cook and Golden were finally apprehended.
The Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation is taking donations to help the families of the slain cops.
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office received condolences from law enforcement departments around the state.
Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, according to Owens, personally phoned him to offer state resources.
