Eric Cecil Barker Sr.
Agency patch
Police Officer

Eric Cecil Barker Sr.

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch January 16, 2008
Age 33
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 156 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Eric Barker and Police Officer Ricky Bryant were shot and killed while working an off-duty, uniformed security detail at an apartment complex in Decatur.

Both officers were patrolling the 176-unit apartment complex when they received a report of a suspicious person at 4371 Glenwood Road. When they arrived at the location a struggle resulted with the suspect who managed to gain control of one of their service weapons and opened fire, killing both officers.

A tow truck driver who happened across the scene called 911 approximately 10 minutes later.

The suspect was apprehended several days later after he was turned in by his girlfriend. He was charged with two counts of felony murder and possession of a gun by a convicted felon. He was found guilty on October 12th, 2012, and subsequently sentenced to life in prison.

Officer Barker was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the DeKalb County Police Department for 4 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-3A995ED0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Eric. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Eric is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Police Officer Barker gave the DeKalb County Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tucker community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Tucker, DeKalb County, GA
Platform Identity dcpd.dekalb.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 2008
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Eric Cecil Barker Sr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Eric Cecil Barker Sr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In GA, 548 of 904 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this state's fallen. That is 60.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At DeKalb County Police Department, 16 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.5% of this agency's fallen.

DeKalb County Police Department
16
of 33 officers
48.5% Felonious
GA — Statewide
548
of 904 officers
60.6% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric Cecil Barker Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Eric Cecil Barker Sr. Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Cecil Barker Sr. is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eric Cecil Barker Sr. was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Eric Cecil Barker Sr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Eric Cecil Barker Sr.’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.