Gwinnett honors officer killed in the line of duty
Pradeep Tamang had worked as a Gwinnett County police officer for less than a year.
But in many ways, officials said, the job was a steppingstone to bigger aspirations: an eventual doctoral degree, expanded service in the military and a career in politics.
Saturday, law enforcement from across the state and community members gathered to mourn the loss of the first Gwinnett police officer to die in the line of duty since 2018.
Hundreds filled 12Stone Church in unincorporated Lawrenceville, including Gov. Brian Kemp and Marty Kemp, for Tamang’s funeral service.
Tamang’s casket was moved inside the church around 10:10 a.m.
“Here was an officer eager to learn, passionate about his work, driven by purpose. So many remember his quirky smile, his infectious energy, and both of those made him a joy to work around,” Chief J.D. McClure said near the end of the service.
McClure added that Tamang died fulfilling the oath he swore.
The chief posthumously awarded Tamang three honors — including the Purple Heart, Honorable Service and the department’s highest award, the Medal of Valor.
Tamang’s fiancee, speaking through tears, shared that Tamang had a goal to become more extroverted and his position in the department had helped him grow confident.
“Pradeep truly loved being a police officer. He would come home from work and immediately tell me about his day, what he experienced, what he learned and the people he helped,” his fiancee said.
Tamang’s cousin said his relative was much more like an older brother. They would talk about their goals, hobbies and confide in each other, he said during the service.
Occasionally, he said Tamang would give him a stern or stoic lecture, which he would brush off. He now regrets having ignored the advice
Officer Melissa Sheridan, who was in Tamang’s graduating class, said her colleague could not stop smiling when he first put on his uniform. She shared that he had a love for traffic and pullovers.
“He was looking forward to continuing his education, so people would have to call him, ‘Doctor, officer, sir,’” Sheridan said with a giggle.
A procession followed the funeral and the public was invited to line the streets for a somber, 5-mile journey to the Tim Stewart Funeral Home.
Georgia state and U.S. flags will be lowered to half-staff until sunset Saturday in Gwinnett and at the state Capitol.
Tamang, 25, was killed earlier this week in a hotel shooting while attempting to make an arrest, police said. A second officer was also injured and was recently said to be doing well after undergoing surgery.
“He was a bright, ambitious, and intelligent young man with a deep passion for learning and service,” Gwinnett police wrote in a news release.
A Nepal native, Tamang moved to the U.S. in 2008, according to a biography provided by Gwinnett police. He graduated from Akron Early College High School in Ohio in 2019, and then got a bachelor’s degree in national security and a master’s degree in political science in security studies from the University of Akron in 2021 and 2023.
He first worked as a private investigator before becoming a correctional officer at Dauphin County Prison in Pennsylvania. In 2025, he graduated from the Gwinnett police academy.
“Outside of work, Pradeep enjoyed playing video games, reading, and watching videos on social media. His favorite color was orange, and he loved drinking Coke and enjoying good food. He had a deep love for animals and dreamed of one day opening an animal sanctuary,” the police department said.
On Feb. 1, officials said Tamang and Cpl. David Reed responded to a call about a credit card theft at a Holiday Inn Express Atlanta on East Park Place Boulevard.
There, they encountered the suspected shooter, 35-year-old Kevin Andrews, who pulled out a handgun and in an “unprovoked assault” fired at the officers, officials previously said.
Andrews was arrested after being shot by one of the officers, police Chief J.D. McClure previously said. He is facing charges of murder, two counts of aggravated assault upon a public safety officer and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Andrews has a lengthy arrest history and three open cases in DeKalb County involving theft, aggravated assault and drug trafficking charges, according to the district attorney’s office.
Tamang was the first Georgia officer to be killed in the line of duty this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks law enforcement deaths. He is Gwinnett’s sixth officer to killed in the line of duty.
The last Gwinnett officer killed in the line of duty was Antwan Toney on Oct. 20, 2018. He was shot while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle near Shiloh Middle School in unincorporated Snellville, according to police.
Funeral service details
Tamang’s celebration of life service started at 10 a.m. at 12Stone Church, 1322 Buford Drive.
A procession, including family members, Gwinnett police officers and other law enforcement members, accompanied the hearse from the church to Tim Stewart Funeral Home at 300 Simonton Road SW.
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