Two deputies with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Dept. in Georgia were shot and killed Thursday evening, according to authorities.
They were identified Friday as Marshall Samual Ervin Jr., 38, and Jonathan Randall Koleski, 42, by Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens. Ervin leaves behind two children.
“Last night was a horrible night for us,” said Owens during a press conference. “We lost two great deputies.”
Authorities said that Ervin and Koleski were serving an arrest warrant to Christopher Cook at 2174 Hampton Glen Court in Marietta, Ga., at around 7:45 p.m. Thursday when they were fatally shot. After the shooting, SWAT and FAST teams were at the scene as the suspect was barricaded.
“It is still early in the investigation,” Cobb County Police Department Chief Stuart VanHoozer said Friday. He said that upon entering the home, authorities were confronted by an individual inside the home who had a weapon.
After being told to drop the weapon, the individual – identified by VanHoozer as Christopher Golden – refused and an exchange of gunfire commenced, said the chief. He said authorities are not going to comment on the type of weapon used or the subject’s criminal backgrounds.
Cook and Golden eventually came out of the home and surrendered to police.
According to Fox 5, Cook and Golden heard their charges in court Friday. Cook was charged with alleged theft, the charge that initially brought Ervin and Koleski to the property. Golden was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and two counts of murder, VanHoozer said.
“We have a lot of evidence to go through,” said VanHoozer Friday.
He thanked the local community for its support in the wake of the shooting.
Ervin joined the department in 2007 and Koleski joined in 2012. Those who wish to support their families can donate through the Cobb Sheriff’s Foundation.
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