Layne Bruce Cook, a 36-year-old Atlanta Police Department officer with 14 years on the force, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in the predawn hours of January 27, 1989. Responding to reports that a suspect had fired a weapon inside his home after a dispute with his wife, officers arrived to find the suspect had fled. About 1:30 a.m., Officer Cook spotted a man matching that description walking along Bellview Avenue. When Cook ordered him to stop, the man took cover behind a tree, opened fire, and struck Cook. Cook returned fire but did not hit the assailant. He was taken to Grady Memorial Center, where his wounds proved fatal. Officer Cook was not wearing his personally owned protective vest at the time.

The suspect, a known convicted felon, later pleaded guilty to avoid a death sentence and received life in prison for Cook’s murder, plus 20 years for aggravated assault and five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Officer Cook was survived by two children. Does anyone have memories of Officer Cook or information about his life and service to share?