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Marion H. Key
Agency patch
Police Officer

Marion H. Key

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
United States flag Georgia flag
End of Watch March 4, 1948
Age 38
The Vigil Panel 84 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 87

Incident

Police Officer Marion Key was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance on McAfee Street, NW. Officer Key and his partner responded to a home where a man was threatening to kill his family. As they walked into the dark house, the man opened fire. Both officers returned fire. Officer Key's partner was critically wounded but managed to crawl back to his car and radioed for help before losing consciousness. Officers arriving on the scene found Officer Key and the gunman, 53, dead in the house. Officer Key's partner's left leg had to be amputated. On his days off, he was building a home for himself and his wife. They were living with her parents. A contractor and several Atlanta citizens finished the house for free. Six years after Officer Key's murder, the suspect's brother murdered Policeman William McCown, of the Cedartown Police Department, on July 31, 1954.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Police Officer Key served with the Atlanta Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Key.

— 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 March 4, 1948
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Marion is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1948, 80 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 84th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Marion was 38. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Police Officer Marion H. Key

Atlanta Police Department · End of Watch March 4, 1948

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-W

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