Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Michael Hester was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Rockbridge Road. He had stopped a car, which subsequently pulled several hundred yards down a driveway to an abandoned house at 9:30 a.m. While he was talking to the driver, the suspect exited through the driver's door and shot him several times. He was able to return fire. Both Officer Hester and the suspect, who was a convicted felon, were found dead a short time later next to the suspect's car, which had been stolen. Officer Hester had served with the Lilburn Police Department and previously served with the Barrow County Sheriff's Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-E2FEE814- Stewardship
- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Hester gave the Lilburn Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lilburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hester.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Michael Tarone Hester 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Tarone Hester's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Tarone Hester Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Tarone Hester is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Tarone Hester was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Lilburn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.