Ralph King Davis

Gwinett County Police Dept. — Lawrenceville, GA

Felonious

End of Watch April 17, 1964

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Police Officer Ralph Davis, Police Officer Jerry Everett, and Police Officer Marvin Gravitt were shot and killed after responding to a suspicious activity call on Arc Way, in Norcross. Officer Everett and Officer Davis were riding together and driving Officer Gravitt home after he had become ill. During the drive, they responded to the call and encountered several subjects stripping a vehicle of parts. Nearby citizens reported hearing what they believed to be firecrackers going off and a search of the area the next day turned up the officers' patrol vehicle. Their bodies were found in a wooded area a short distance away, all handcuffed together, and shot a total of 14 times. Three suspects were arrested several weeks later, one of whom was an ex-Gwinnett County deputy sheriff who knew the officers. One was granted immunity after agreeing to testify against the other two. They were both sentenced to death but later had their sentences commuted to life in prison. One was paroled in 1989. The ex-deputy died in prison in May 2016.

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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 Davis served with the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lawrenceville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Davis.

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

Agency

Department Gwinett County Police Dept.

Location Lawrenceville, GA

Platform Identity gwinpd.gwinnett.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 17, 1964

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Police Officer Ralph King Davis 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 Gwinett County Police Dept., 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Gwinett County Police Dept.

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious