Incident
Major Greg Barney was shot and killed while assisting members of the Clayton County Police Department at an apartment complex in the 6600 block of Church Street.
Major Barney, who was not wearing a vest, was assigned to the perimeter while other officers served a warrant at an apartment. When officers knocked on the door the subject ran out of a back door and encountered Major Barney. The subject shot Major Barney four times in the torso and arm as he continued to flee. A Clayton County officer confronted and shot the subject a short distance away. The man died from his wounds several weeks later.
Major Barney was transported to Southern Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to the wound.
Major Barney had served with the Riverdale Police Department for 26 years and had previously served with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office for six months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-GA-5F193E7A- Stewardship
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
27 years. You could have gone home.
Major Barney gave the Riverdale Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Riverdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Major Barney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Major Gregory Eugene Barney is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 6.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gregory Eugene Barney's cause is highlighted.
How Gregory Eugene Barney Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gregory Eugene Barney is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gregory Eugene Barney was killed by handgun.