Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ervin, Jr.
Officer: Cobb County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Sheriff Marshall Samuel Ervin, Jr.
Date: 9/8/2022 Location: Marietta, GA FACTORS (1,2,7,8,15,17)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Christopher Golden
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, Golden was charged with misdemeanor theft in a 2019 incident involving his friend Christopher Cook. / Yes, as the deputies were arresting Cook for a warrant, Golden ambushed them.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.
Race/Sex/Age: White/Male/30
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 7:45 p.m. on September 8, 2022, Cobb County Deputy Sheriffs Jonathan Koleski and Marshall Ervin attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant on Christopher Cook at his residence. There was no answer when the deputies rang the bell and knocked on the door, so they returned to their patrol car to leave.
Actions taken by subject toward police: As the deputies were preparing to leave, a vehicle occupied by Christopher Cook drove up to the house. The deputies proceeded to arrest Cook when they were “confronted by an armed suspect who was inside the house.” That suspect was Christopher Golden, whom the deputies gave loud and clear commands ordering him to drop his weapon. Golden ignored the deputies’ orders and opened fire on them, fatally shooting both of them.
Reactions by the police: Before being struck down, both deputies managed to return fire and put out a radio transmission requesting immediate assistance. A SWAT team and other law enforcement officers quickly showed up and a stand-off ensued with both Golden and Cook barricaded in the house. After a few hours both suspects surrendered voluntarily and without any further loss of life.
How murdered? Deputy Sheriff Marshall Samuel Ervin, Jr. was ambushed and fatally shot while serving a felony arrest warrant.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? From the limited facts available in the reporting, it sounds like while the deputies were in the driveway taking Christopher Cook into custody for his warrant, Christopher Golden ambushed them from inside the house with a rifle. The deputies could not have anticipated that scenario and could not effectively defend against that threat while in the open and armed with just their duty handguns.
Would the officer have been justified to use deadly force before being murdered? The deputies were at a distinct tactical disadvantage and could not effectively use deadly force before being murdered.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Golden surrendered, was arrested and faces two counts each of aggravated assault on a police officer and murder.
