U.S. Air Force · United States 
Kelly Key
1989
Kelly Key III served the U.S. Air Force for 4 years. Kelly served in the Vietnam War and the Cold War.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Detective Key succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on June 1, 1970, while serving a search warrant on a narcotics suspect. He was shot by suspect with a 7mm rifle bullet that passed through the front door and hit him in the spinal cord, rendering him a quadraplegic. The suspect was shot multiple times by other officers and taken into custody, convicted, and later released. Detective Key had served with the agency for 9 years at the time of the shooting.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, parents, sister and brother.
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
1959 – 1963
Conflicts
Vietnam War
Cold War
Also Served
Los Angeles Police Department
Detective
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn1m8vr3vg6aw953k6aq
Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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