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52 years ago, 3 Gwinnett County police officers were murdered

Early on the morning of April 17, 1964, Officer Marvin Jesse Gravitt fell ill. Around 1 a.m., partners Jerry Everett and Ralph Davis picked him up to drive him home. While en route, they responded to a suspicious activity call on Arc Way near Norcross. (PHOTOS COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)
Early on the morning of April 17, 1964, Officer Marvin Jesse Gravitt fell ill. Around 1 a.m., partners Jerry Everett and Ralph Davis picked him up to drive him home. While en route, they responded to a suspicious activity call on Arc Way near Norcross. (PHOTOS COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)
April 18, 2016

On April 17, 1964, three Gwinnett County police officers were gunned down.

Jerry Everett, Marvin Gravitt and Ralph Davis were investigating a "suspicious activity" call near Norcross when they were handcuffed together and shot with their own weapons. The loss of their lives marks a bloody, dark day in Gwinnett County history — and only one Gwinnett police officer has died in the line of duty since.

"Those who worked here at that time are long gone," GCPD spokeswoman Cpl. Michele Pihera wrote in a dispatch earlier this year, commemorating the 52nd anniversary. "What we have left are a couple of boxes, photos and some notes as reminders. The fine details are a bit faded now. But, let us not forget the tragic circumstances that led to the murder of three of our police officers on April 17, 1964."

»Photos and background from the case's history.

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Tyler Estep hosts the AJC Win Column, Atlanta's new weekly destination for all things sports. He also shepherds the Sports Daily and Braves Report newsletters to your inbox.

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