Incident
Officer William Corn was shot and killed as he stood in the recreation room of the Kopenhaven Apartments, at 3797 Lavista Road in Tucker, while working a secondary employment. He was shot three times, including one shot from his own service weapon. The suspect(s) then stole Officer Corn's weapon. No suspects were ever identified in Officer Corn's murder, and this remains the agency's only unsolved police murder. Officer Corn was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the DeKalb County Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Corn gave the DeKalb County Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tucker community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William David Corn served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
DeKalb County Police Department has lost 33 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
William is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
William is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1972, 1 officer at DeKalb County Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1952, with 2.
In 1972, 6 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 20th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1972, 142 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 28th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1972, 160 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
William was 24. Of the 16 killed feloniously at DeKalb County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 25.8 and 33; the middle age was 27.5. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 3.5 years.
William was 24. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 24. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
William was 24. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. William had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
February holds 18.8% of these deaths at DeKalb County Police Department, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 6.3%.
February holds 9.1% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Tuesdays: 13.1%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 48.5% of all 33 deaths at DeKalb County Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 18.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
DeKalb County Police Department has 33 officers remembered here, William among them.
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John Wesley Webb
Mar 16, 1919
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Samuel Dean Gentry
Apr 8, 1925
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Lewell S. Henderson
Aug 12, 1927
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Miles Henry Phillips
Aug 12, 1927
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Charles Linton Phillips
Oct 7, 1932
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Edwin Cecil Garrison
Sep 20, 1946
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Charles Willis Wright, Jr.
Dec 22, 1948
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Wilford Eugene Johnson
Sep 7, 1952
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James Charles Nix
Sep 7, 1952
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James Lonnie Mize
Feb 6, 1954
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Johnny Farrell Puckett, Sr.
Jul 16, 1966
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Guy Fedrick Jones
Jun 5, 1968
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Charles Richard Norred
Sep 8, 1971
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William David Corn
Feb 1, 1972
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Donald Lee Mitchell
Jul 2, 1972
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Larry Eugene Quinn
Feb 4, 1973
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Thomas Stanhope Atkisson
Dec 14, 1976
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Robert Keith Hawkins
Feb 7, 1980
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Tommy Richard Gober, Jr.
Jun 28, 1980
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Wyndall T. Davis
Dec 3, 1981
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Wade C. Barrett, Jr.
Apr 8, 1991
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Richard Lee Teague
Nov 23, 1992
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Ricardo J. Torres
Sep 13, 1998
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Jarvis Darren Crumley
Dec 29, 1998
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Ann Marie Guinta
Jul 20, 2002
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Dennis Carmen Stepnowski
Jun 29, 2006
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Eric Cecil Barker, Sr.
Jan 16, 2008
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Ricky L. Bryant, Jr.
Jan 16, 2008
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Ivorie Gerhard Klusmann
Aug 10, 2013
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Kevin Jermaine Toatley
Sep 19, 2015
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Edgar Isidro Flores
Dec 13, 2018
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Daniel Marcus Mobley
Jan 2, 2021
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David Rose
Aug 8, 2025
Where
Military Service
William David Corn served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit William David Corn’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 38-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from DeKalb County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















