Atlanta Police Department, Georgia
End of Watch: Thursday, March 4, 1948
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 4, 1948
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Police Officer Marion Key was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance on McAfee Street, NW.
Officer Key and his partner responded to a home where a man was threatening to kill his family. As they walked into the dark house, the man opened fire. Both officers returned fire. Officer Key's partner was critically wounded but managed to crawl back to his car and radioed for help before losing consciousness. Officers arriving on the scene found Officer Key and the gunman, 53, dead in the house.
Officer Key's partner's left leg had to be amputated. On his days off, he was building a home for himself and his wife. They were living with her parents. A contractor and several Atlanta citizens finished the house for free.
Six years after Officer Key's murder, the suspect's brother murdered Policeman William McCown, of the Cedartown Police Department, on July 31, 1954.