This was NOT a "traffic stop" as they are saying. He was just getting off work and going home. He was not breaking the law and has no criminal record whatsoever. Cobb county sherriff's deputies are trigger happy and now my innocent brother is dead. He did not deserve to die! I don't believe for one second that he engaged officers in any kind of physical way.

the officer (Sean Henry) who shot this guy is a hot head and is known for over reacting to situation.....probably the case here again!!! I feel for the family of this victim and hope the truth comes out about this incident.

It is just so very scary to think an officer could be a hot head. Normally we assume they have absolute control over their sensibilities. What on earth compels an officer to shoot one person five or six times?

I am Matt's aunt and I live in California. Matt was my only nephew. Not for one minute do I believe that Matt "engaged" an officer in any way. Matt was a wonderful young man and this is a terrible loss for our family. It's just devastating that he can be shot five or six times at POINT BLANK range for nothing. NOTHING! Sean Henry should be behind bars for the rest of his life for this and also so he doesn't hurt anyone else.

i think this is the second police shooting in 3 years he has been involved in....not aure if her shot and killed another guy a few years back whom was unarmed as well., but if he did........just saying....if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its a duck!!!!

Nancy I am praying forbyou and your family.. Call all the news outlets and get this out for EVERYONE to see and hear!!! Let me know if I can do ANYTHING to help!!

there have been numerous officer involved shootings in cobb county over the past 5 yrs where "suspects" were unarmed.....Cobb police are just killin folks and don't give a hell....The FBI or GBI should do an inquiry into the previous shootings and they will see there is something not right with Cobb PD....it amuses me that the officer involved shootings investigations are conducted by their own investigators....can u say cover up to protect their own????? smells fishy!!!!

This young man was an Eagle Scout and an Explorer Scout for two years working with the Concord Police Department participating ride alongs and working DUI check points. He recently obtained a a gun permit and a concealed weapon permit going through an extensive criminal background check. He had the utmost respect for for law enforcement personnel.
The interesting element here is that Matt stood 5 feet 10 inches tall weighing 150 pounds. Yet Cobb County Sheriff spokesperson stated two deputies couldn't subdue him (if a scuffle did occur). Their only recourse was to shoot him?? Oh, he was unarmed when shot. Also Cobb County Sheriffs Departmene has not said how many shots were fired. One witness counted 6.
Who can tell me how many wrongful death actions have occurred within the Cobb County Sheriffs Department?
Maybe residences and visitors to Cobb County better start wearing bullet proof vests..
R Murdock

This terrible event needs to be highly publicized in order to affect change in Cobb County. Obviously there's a serious problem with "loose cannon" behavior in Cobb's officers. Most civilians automatically assume police officers are good people. That is NOT always the case as the details of this story are emerging. It makes my stomach turn knowing we lost an innocent civilian who was an asset to our community---and an EAGLE SCOUT!!!
An officer shooting an unarmed citizen one time is questionable enough.
Shooting an unarmed citizen six times is absolutely deplorable.

There are no words that can describe the devastation and grief our family is going through. Matt was a law abiding citizen and had respect for law enforcement and worked with them on several occasions. More said on Cobb County, it took me several phone calls to locate Matt's body. Does no one have the decency to communicate this information to a grieving family? We will pursue the truth and Cobb County will be held accountable. The community needs to come together, innnocent people are not safe living or working there.. Let justice be served.

I am also Matt's aunt from Calif, this has been most horrific and uncalled for. Our family has suffered a huge loss. I remember Matt when he was younger always wanting to be a "Peace Officer" . He went on ride alongs with the local police, when he lived in Calif. He always wanted to protect the people in his community. He was always funny and a joy to be around. I was interested in the comment that Cobb county does have their own investigators which I found out this morning after talking to the Medical Examiners office. We will find out more come Monday and are going to do everything we can that to make sure the truth comes out and this is investigated properly. The people of this community need to feel that they are protected not at the mercy of some trigger happy cop.
C. Jessup

I am so sorry for your loss and appalled that a police officer would shoot an innocent person. What would there be a scuffle about? He had done NOTHING wrong. He had been identified by his boss who had said had been at work with him. There was nothing suspicious about him. I hope this police officer is brought to justice and stopped from harming other citizens.

all u have to do is file an open records request on this officer and you can view all his citizen complaints, investigations, etc.....this is something that should not be ignored.....You can also follow up with District Attorney Pat Head who is a anti -police and ask for an independent investigation.....He will prosecute this officer if he was not justified in killing this innocent man...DO NOT take Cobb investigators word for it that he was justified...they will just sweep it under the rug anyways!!! There have been many a people killed by Cobb Police whom were unarmed and still they never face the consenquences...just smells fishy to me!!

Thank you Ih8cops. We will request the open records on the officer involved . In memory of my son, I will not let this incident be swept under the rug!

Can someone please give me more info. Matt worked for me during the day and I still have his jetta at my shop. My name is Bryson and I own wagenwerks atlanta.

Matt Murdock was a great friend and a great American he will be missed by all who knew him.I hope justice will be served. It ain't over yet.
R.I.P. Matt

Our heartfelt sympathys go out to the Murdock and Wakefeild families. All Pro collision

Matt was a great guy! our prayers are will the family and friends ! u will be missed! i hope Justice gets served!

June Ewing
Matt worked at E-Tech Collision in Walnut Creek, California for three years. I am shocked and saddened by his death. I would never describe Matt as suspicious or violent or confrontational, not the Matt we knew! Our heart goes out to Matt's family, you have our deepest sympathy. Rest in Peace Matt.

Very sad to hear this. If there is a car- camera recording of this (from either the Sheriff car or the Cobb County Car, it needs to be requested by the relatives of Matt ASAP. Something is not right if the reports of Matt being shot 5-6 times at point blank range, are correct.

MY NAME IS JOHN GILBERT OWNER OPERATER JOHNNYS GLASS WORKS
Matt has been a friend for the past 4 years . I just cant believ this has happend .
We met for lunch several times a month ,he was working on my daughters car at Wagon erks ,hes
a damm good body tech . I know he was a good man ,kid ,friend . I never saw him mad or mean or any thing of the sort . I for one refuse to believe he was in any altercation . Your gona have to show me .
Dont they have video recorders on the police cars or maby some sound , show me . Matt im gona miss you. PLEASE keep us all updated on all info . This site is agood place to comment out in the open . We ,Matts friends and family ,have nothing to hide , Do You ?

I was referred to this article by my mother who is a friend of the family in Cumming. I am sorry that I can't name a ACLU/civil rights attorney, but that is the type you need in the Atlanta area. This is an awful and very sad situation and will not be a short process to resolve. Gather as much information as possible and do everything by the book and show you are not in any way the way the police will try to portray you and your family. Good luck and so sorry for your loss.

Mat was a great person, truth i don't know him too well, but i do not see what he could have done to provoke this shooting. My condolences to the family and friends.

iv known Matt for a couple years now. worked with him a few times at Wagenwerks Atl. he was a damn good body tech and a good guy. im sure gonna miss him.

It is so bitterly ironic that this man who spent much of his own spare time educating the public on the scandals and shortcomings of government and big business be himself at the door of contraversy at his time of death. Somebody needs to carry the torch for Matt. He will sorely be missed!

This is all, unfortunately, the result of a vague and unconstitutional law on Georgias books called "loitering and Prowling"

If you read that law, you'll see that Police, because it is worded so vaguely, can get away with claiming ANYONE fits it, and then feel they are justified in doing whatever they like, as they have classified YOU as an offender in their minds.

http://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-16/chapter-11/article-2/16-11-36/

In other words, without you knowing you are doing anything suspect, the Police can profile you as suspect, and potentially dangerous, and you, the law-abiding citizen are then caught off gaurd by aggressive Police who have tagged you as a "criminal".

Lets get these vague and unconstitutional laws off our books, and these trigger happy, rambo wannabe murderers off our police forces.

Ms. Wakefield, my sincerest condolences to your family.

I pray for justice, and not just the usual cover up.

we should plan a rally at the District Attorney office in Marietta to do a thorough inquest into this incident....IT WAS MURDER and Officer Sean Henry should face the consequences!!!!!

As to "lawful command" that the Police claim he failed to obey .....a LOT of what a PO orders you to do during traffic or any other kind of stops ....THEY HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO ORDER YOU TO DO ....but they have seen their peers order such, and frightened people comply, so they begin to believe they have an authority they simply do not have.

And if you question that "authority", or refuse to comply, MANY will physically attack you , and if you do ANYTHING to try and stop what is now, in actuality, an ASSAULT on you by the police officer, he or they will claim that it was YOU that was at fault.

Please, please LORD, do not let this CRIME by the Police go unpunished !!!

I am Matt's cousin, we grew up together and are very close in age. I am outraged and saddened beyond belief. There is absolutely no way that I could ever imagine my cousin getting into any type of altercation, esp not physically, with an officer! The report is absolutely absurd and if there is any justice at all this officer will be fired from the force and will be tried/convicted of murder! Matt is one of the most kind hearted, loving, hilarious people I know...first to help a person in need. He was always protective of me growing up and never allowed others to tease/bully me. He would never hurt another and in no way deserved this! I am so sad for my family and our loss. Please know how much I love you and that you are all in my thoughts/prayers. I forwarded on some legal and counseling resources to my mom to share with you. I'm just not sure what else to do, but to pray that justice will be served and that when it is, we will some day/some how be able to feel at peace and experience closure. I love you guys, Rachel

Ms. Wakefield, likely it was/is the "M" word, if only Manslaughter.

I realise that with the grief, mourning, and outrage it is difficult to do much else.

But someone with some standing NEEDS to get an attorney to get a Judge to order the preservation of ALL eveidence, videos, audios, etc.

Otherwise, as in the past, these things have been erased/destroyed once the police come back with their "internal" investigation, and claim that their employee, ........who if they did wrong will not only bring down the wrath of the community upon them, but cost that governmental entity hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars, along with some on high in the Dept. and Government to lose their cushy Jobs ......was fully justified.

The ACLU may be good place to start, but I would look for an Attorney that will represent the family, and seek justice.

Also, once you or somone in the family can handle it, get interviewed by the local media on a video they will broadcat (they may not want to, though, as upsetting the police can cost them access, and they are NOT there to serve the public, but to make money), or if you cannot get the regular media involved, go on youtube.

It is a sad state of affairs, but the fact is, a lot of the powers that be that should be HELPING you, will not, as it was not THEIR loved one, so they do not really care.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss, and my prayers that you and your family will be able to fight for, and win, JUSTICE for Matt.

Agree wholeheartedly w/ what BOB said above... Lawyer up. Contact news networks. Don't let this get buried by the PD.

I am appalled to think that the people sworn to protect us would deliberately destroy evidence in a fatal shooting. Lawyer up is right!

any updates on the investigation???

I am Matt’s cousin; He and I had just made contact for the first time in our lives now this overzealous pathetic officer known as Cobb law enforcement has taken Matt from our family. I unfortunately know what my Aunt and Uncle are facing, I watched my own parents loose a child. NO PARENT should have to endure such pain. Words cannot express the frustration that I am having right now. Very hard to watch this from California unfold without being able to help somehow. I hope that the fortitude that my family has will not stop anyone from pursuing the justice that is needed before another family is torn apart. I respect law enforcement for what they have to encounter, I also know that if you don't have the self control not to pull your gun out on an unarmed person that you should look for work flipping burgers or some other menial job that suits you and not put the public in harm’s way. We look to law enforcement to protect us not kill us.

It is hard right now not to ask God why? But instead thank him for giving us Matt. I hope everyone in the next few days can replace the hate they are feeling and celebrate the life of Matthew for he touch everyone that knew him in some special way. godspeed

If these type of incidents are overlooked and swept under the rug, then respect for the law will only decrease. If Matt had been my son or brother, and this was treated as a simple unfortunate misunderstanding, then I fear to think of how I might react. Please think of it like this ......... "What if it were my son, or best friend, or family member?" How would you feel?

May I please ask whatever happened to Elevation of Force? The definition for that is as follows
"sequential actions that begin with nonlethal force measures and may graduate to lethal measures (direct action) to include warning, disabling, or deadly shots to defeat a threat and protect the force." Clearly the Officer who shot Matt did not learn this at his police academy.

i spoke to an officer close to the investigation and apparently they found out that Matt had a concealed weapons permit so they asked him if there was a gun in the car, and he said " I don't know " It was reported that Matt was reaching around the car in an area where his hands were concealed and the officers game him verbal commands to refrain from those actions. Matt refused to show his hands and they thought that he was trying to retrieve a firearm. Officer Henry then shot him several times out of fear he was trying to get a weapon to harm them. The search of the car revealed no weapon in the area Matt had his hands so its unknown at this time why he was not listening to the officers commands and the biggest question is why didnt they use other means of force?? i.e. pepper spray, taser, asp baton, hand to hand combat, etc....just a suspicious death all around....the officer whom I spoke to said, " Henry will be ok and it will will be a justified shooting...I just don't understand how this death of an innocent man is justified!!! Hope the investigation is in favor of the victim and his family....

If Officer Henry comes out "OK" in this situation, no one in Cobb County will be safe. Who will be his next victim????? Will he be "justified" in shooting anyone he wants to now? What is wrong with Cobb County PD? Do they shoot you to death for no reason FIVE TIMES and ask questions later? Matt and his family are sure not coming out "OK" in this. The article on the candlelight vigil Friday night said that the PD now says there was no 911 "suspicious person" call. What else are they lying about?

any updates on the investigation??? I saw he should be charged w/ murder!!!!!

sorry....SAY he sould be charged w/ murder

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your comments over the past several weeks - as an UPDATE: we will be following up with this story when we have the information to do so.

If you knew Matthew Murdock or were related to him, please contact me at liz.kennedy@patch.com. We would like to share with our readers a little bit about who he was and how he will be remembered.

Liz Kennedy, Editor, Cumming Patch

I am a member of a Cobb Coalition which is a group of human and civil rights organizations in Cobb which looks into incidents like this and we have already contacted both the police department and our state legislator, Alisha Thomas Morgan, to set up a meeting with the chief and precinct commanders to discuss this seemingly senseless shooting and other shootings and issues. Our meeting will take place the last week of June. If we can be of assistance to the family feel free to let me know at pilgrim1@mindspring.com or 404-573-1199.

Hello Richard, I appreciate your comment and information.

Mike, while I appreciate your comment and opinion here - the use of inappropriate language to get your point across will not be accepted on Cumming Patch. I invite you to post again minus the curse words.

I would like to see the GBI investigate this. It's a conflict of interest for this cop's actions to be documented and investigated only by his co-workers in the same department.

How sad. Just read the article in the paper. The Officer should find other work as he doesn't seem to have the emotional restraint required of a professional police officer

This Deputy is in a heap of trouble. I'll bet this Deputy goes to jail.

Kim Pruitt-Musgrave
My prayers go out to this family. It is very sad a human life was taken due to an overzealous cop. If one of the family members would email me at kimmcafeepruitt@live.com I can refer you to someone that can help you in your fight for justice.