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Sherry Elizabeth Lyons-Williams
Agency patch
Investigator

Sherry Elizabeth Lyons-Williams

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
United States flag Georgia flag
End of Watch April 4, 2001
Age 39
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 148 ›
Gender Female
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 87

Incident

Investigator Sherry Lyons-Williams was shot and killed while she and another narcotics investigator attempted to make an arrest at approximately 3:00 pm.

The officers had purchased drugs from the residence at 1855 Lakewood Terrace earlier in the day during an undercover operation and returned to the home for the arrest. As the officers were securing the stairway to the basement, the suspect opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun striking Investigator Lyons-Williams in the chest and her partner in the leg and face. The rounds which struck Officer Lyons-Williams bypassed her vest. Her wounded partner was able to return fire and kill the suspect.

Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Investigator Lyons-Williams was pronounced dead.

Investigator Lyons-Williams is the first female officer from her agency to be killed in the line of duty. She had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

She is survived by her husband.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-ANT2-SHEG-C earlier record number BO-US-GA-04940663
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.
Investigator Lyons-Williams gave the Atlanta Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Lyons-Williams.

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 2001
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 39
Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Sherry is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2001, 158 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 23rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Sherry was 39. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Sherry had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where she stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .45 caliber, in 0.6% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Her people

Atlanta Police Department has 88 officers remembered here, Sherry among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Investigator Sherry Elizabeth Lyons-Williams

Atlanta Police Department · End of Watch April 4, 2001

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

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