Sam Edward Etheredge Jr., 34, was killed on December 25, 1980, in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was a ten-year veteran of the Daytona Beach Police Department and was responding to a disturbance call at the Grandview Apartments, 141 S. Grandview Avenue, when he and a responding lieutenant encountered the suspect in the suspect’s room. The suspect opened fire, striking Officer Etheredge in the torso and wounding the lieutenant; both officers returned fire.

Officer Etheredge’s death was the first line-of-duty death for the department in 35 years. The suspect was later convicted of Etheredge’s murder and received a 75-year prison sentence. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

Does anyone have memories of Officer Etheredge, his family, or the Grandview Apartments from that time that could add context to this case?