David Yancey

Fulton County Sheriff's Office — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch June 16, 1913

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Deputy Sheriff David Yancey was stabbed to death by a man he attempted to arrest for purse snatching.

Deputy Yancey was walking on Whitehall Street near Forsyth Street when he heard the cry of "stop thief," and saw a man being chased by several others. Deputy Yancey joined the chase, outdistanced the other pursuers, and caught the suspect at 33 Windsor Street. The suspect resisted arrest and plunged a long knife into Deputy Yancey's heart.

The subject hid under a nearby vacant house where he was surrounded by several Atlanta policemen. Refusing to surrender he was shot six times and killed. It was later discovered that he was an escaped convict and wanted in another state for murder.

Deputy Sheriff Yancey was survived by his wife and eight children.

Survivors

Deputy Sheriff Yancey was survived by his wife and eight children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-8441704B
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Yancey served with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Yancey.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity fcso.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 16, 1913

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff David Yancey is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fulton County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Fulton County Sheriff's Office

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious