Fallen Cobb officers honored with new mural a year after their deaths

The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office held a private memorial ceremony on Friday to honor the memory of two deputies, Jonathan Koleski and Marshall Ervin Jr., who lost their lives in the line of duty a year ago. 

Deputies Koleski and Ervin Jr. were tragically killed while attempting to serve a warrant in Marietta. The memorial featured remarks from Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens and the unveiling of a mural dedicated to the memory of the deputies.

Deputy Koleski, who was 42 years old, had been a part of the sheriff’s office since 2007. Deputy Ervin Jr., a 38-year-old father of two, joined the sheriff’s office in 2012. Owens described both men as outstanding individuals, characterized by their integrity, family values, and deep connections with their loved ones.

During the memorial, the sheriff’s office unveiled a mural and a pair of custom chairs created in honor of the fallen deputies. Owens explained that the memorial will serve as a lasting tribute, reminding every deputy and employee of the sheriff’s office of the ultimate sacrifice made by Ervin and Koleski to ensure they are never forgotten. 

Owens expressed the ongoing pain of their loss, stating, “It’s been a long year, and a lot of our employees are still grieving, but I think what I can tell you about this is it has brought us closer together as an organization.”

Owens recounted the events, explaining that both deputies were shot and killed while apprehending a suspect wanted for theft at a residence near Marietta on September 8, 2023. 

Deputies Koleski and Ervin were attempting to serve a warrant at a residence in the Hampton Glen subdivision for a suspect named Christopher Cook, aged 32, who was wanted for failure to appear in a theft by deception case. 

Tragically, while trying to apprehend Cook in the driveway of the home, they were confronted by Christopher Golden, who was inside the house with a rifle. Golden opened fire on the two deputies from the house. 

Golden pleaded guilty to murder in December and received two life sentences, in addition to an extra 55 years without the possibility of parole. Cook, who was not charged in connection to the shooting of Ervin and Koleski, pleaded guilty to theft by taking in July and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Owens emphasized the significance of the memorial as a way to remember and honor the brave deputies who made the ultimate sacrifice, stating, “Today is a special day for us to begin some remembrance of our fallen heroes.”