Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Sowa was shot and killed as he and another officer responded to a domestic violence call at an apartment complex at 2430 Morosgo Way at approximately 9:45 pm. He and his partner were both shot in the head as they arrived at the scene. Officer Sowa was killed and the other officer was critically wounded. The subject then hid in his apartment for six hours before giving up and being taken into custody. The 44-year-old subject was convicted of Officer Sowa's murder and subsequently sentenced to death on March 3rd, 2000. He was executed by lethal injection on October 19th, 2016. Officer Sowa had served with the Atlanta Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, mother, stepfather, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-5FDBF329- 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.
Police Officer Sowa gave the Atlanta Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sowa.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John Richard Sowa 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 Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Richard Sowa's cause is highlighted.
How John Richard Sowa Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 2016
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Richard Sowa is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Richard Sowa was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
87 officers from Atlanta Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
