Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Melvin Grigley was shot and killed when three suspects attempted to carjack his vehicle at approximately 1:00 am.
Sergeant Grigley was visiting a friend in College Park and was parked in the home's driveway, near the intersection of Brittany Trail and Louis XIV Lane, when the incident occurred. As the suspects attempted to flee in Sergeant Grigley's vehicle he identified himself and exchanged shots with the suspects.
Sergeant Grigley was struck in the chest and mortally wounded but was able to wound one of the suspects as well. The weapon the suspects were using was stolen from an undercover sheriff's deputy only days earlier.
The 16-year-old shooter was apprehended several days later and charged with murder. The remaining two suspects were also apprehended at a later date. They were all sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
Sergeant Grigley was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 26 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, mother, brother, and four sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-53E52A0F- 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 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.
Sergeant Grigley gave the Atlanta Police Department 26 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Melvin Grigley served in the Marine Corps (1968â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Melvin Grigley 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. Melvin Grigley's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin Grigley Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Grigley is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin Grigley 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.
