52 years ago, 3 Gwinnett police officers were murdered

Metro Atlanta

52 years ago, 3 Gwinnett 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)

Officers Everett, Gravitt and Davis drove down the dirt road and came across three men gathered around two cars parked in the woods. One had been stolen from Atlanta. (PHOTOS COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Suspects Venson Eugene Williams and Wade Levi Truett reportedly tried to flee but were apprehended and returned to the scene. The third suspect, Alec Evans, drew a pistol on the officers. (PHOTOS COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Evans was a former Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy and knew the officers. He ordered Truett to disarm them and handcuff them to each other. (PHOTOS COURTESY GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Evans and Williams put the officers in the backseat of the Oldsmobile and drove them further into the woods while Truett moved the police car from public view. After moving the police car, Truett got into the Chevrolet to move it closer to the other cars. As he was driving up, he thought he heard the sound of “firecrackers.” (PHOTOS COURTESY OF GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

The officers had been shot and killed with their own guns. The Oldsmobile was set on fire, and the suspects fled. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Truett, Williams and Evans were eventually indicted, and their trials began in the summer of 1965. Truett was granted immunity for testifying against Williams and Evans. Both were found guilty of killing the officers (who are immortalized inside halls of the Gwinnett County Police Department) and sentenced to death. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Evans and Williams' sentences were ultimately commuted to life in prison. Williams was paroled in 1989, but Evans remains in prison today -- and has always denied killing the officers. (Credit: Georgia Department of Corrections)

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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)

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52 years ago, 3 Gwinnett police officers were murdered

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