Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Agent in Charge Sonny King was shot and killed at a gun shop while attempting to serve a bench warrant for the arrest of a suspect in a homicide investigation. At 1:00 p.m., Agent King, another agent, the Sheriff of Morgan County, and a deputy sheriff went to the suspect's gun shop on Thankful Road. They told the suspect that they had a warrant for his arrest. The suspect pulled out a pistol and shot Agent King, striking him in the chest. The man fired a second shot, hitting another agent in the arm. A third agent returned fire and shot the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital and died later that same evening. Special Agent in Charge King had served in law enforcement for 21 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-GA-15ED852C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent in Charge King gave the Georgia Bureau of Investigation 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent in Charge King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent in Charge John T. King III 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 97,772 officers honored here.
In GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John T. King III's cause is highlighted.
How John T. King III Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John T. King III is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John T. King III was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Georgia Bureau of Investigation are honored on badge.nw.
