Two ‘young, bright’ deputies killed in ambush while serving warrant, GA sheriff says
UPDATE: Two Georgia sheriff’s deputies fatally shot while serving a warrant have been identified, according to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Marshall Samual Ervin Jr. and Deputy Jonathan Koleski were ambushed and killed at a home in Marietta on Sept. 8.
Koleski’s funeral is set for Wednesday, Sept. 14, and a service for Ervin will be held Thursday, Sept. 15, the sheriff’s office said.
The men accused in the deadly ambush were identified as Christopher Cook, 32, and Christopher Golden, 30, according to authorities. Cook was arrested on prior charges, while Golden faces multiple counts of felony murder and aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer, booking records show.
Original story continues below.
Two Georgia deputies are dead after authorities say they were ambushed while serving a warrant at an Atlanta-area home Thursday, Sept. 8.
“I’m saddened to report this evening that the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office has lost two young, bright deputies,” Sheriff Craig Owens announced at a news conference streamed by WXIA. “These two deputies served Cobb County with dignity and honor.”
The deadly incident unfolded at a home in Marietta where two people “ambushed ... and killed” the deputies as they attempted to serve a warrant, according to Owens. The suspects, who weren’t named, were arrested after an hours-long standoff with police, including SWAT and FAST teams, news outlets reported.
Several neighboring agencies including Cobb County police, City of Marietta police and Kennesaw police also responded to the scene.
The warrant was for failure to appear for theft by deception, the sheriff said.
Deputies knocked on the door and, after they got no answer, were headed back to their cars when a person believed to be one of the suspects pulled up in a car, Owens said. Gunfire erupted shortly afterward.
One suspect opened fire from a car while the second person shot from the house, WSB-TV reported.
Authorities haven’t identified the fallen deputies but said both had been with the department for more than five years.
“Pray for us, because we need it,” Owens said. “Our hearts are broken here in Cobb County. ... And it’s gonna take some prayers to help us get back to where we need to be.”
McClatchy News reached out to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office on Friday, Sept. 9, for additional information and was awaiting a response.
The incident remains under investigation.
Marietta is about 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published September 9, 2022 at 11:17 AM.