The law enforcement community in north Fulton County is set to gather in solidarity this afternoon to remember a fallen Roswell police officer.
Jeremy Labonte will be honored in front of family and friends ― and plenty of fellow officers in blue ― some of whom have been touched by his positivity since before he was an elementary school student in Austell.
At about 1:45 p.m., a procession route will begin to travel from Lebanon Baptist Church to Roswell United Methodist Church, where Labonte’s funeral will be held at 3 p.m. and also live-streamed. The public is asked to stand along Crabapple Road, Canton Street, Atlanta Street or Mimosa Boulevard to watch the procession pass by.
The 24-year-old officer died Friday night after being shot in the parking lot at a shopping complex on Market Boulevard. The suspect, who allegedly fired several shots, was later arrested and faces murder charges.
On Tuesday, Labonte’s wife, Alyssa, followed her husband’s casket, covered in an American flag, out of Northside Chapel Funeral Directors and Crematory en route to the church for the visitation. Alyssa and Jeremy had known each other since before they were teenagers.
She was accompanied by dozens of officers from Roswell police and neighboring departments, who lined up outside the place of worship to conduct a minute-long silent salute.
Labonte was the first law enforcement officer from Georgia to be killed in the line of duty this year. In 2024, six Georgia officers died on the job.
A private burial service will be held Thursday.
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com
Only once before has Roswell police lost an officer in the line of duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks law enforcement deaths. On June 14, 1986, Leslie G. Warden was killed when he was struck by a drunken driver while assisting at a crash scene on I-285.
“We’re deeply grateful for the community’s support as we come together to honor Officer Labonte’s life and service together,” Roswell police spokesman Officer Tim Lupo said.
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