LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — It's been one year since Officer Antwan Toney was killed. One year since his fellow officers with the Gwinnett Police Department - and his family - got the call that he wasn't coming home.
It's been one year since a community began mourning a young policeman's loss and trying to honor his memory. Early on the morning of Oct. 20, another agency in Gwinnett County, the sheriff's office, shared that it had not forgotten him or his sacrifice.
At 1:06 a.m. - one year to the day since Officer Toney was shot and killed checking a suspicious vehicle - the sheriff's office shared once more the memorial post it made to honor him
This is Gwinnett County Police Officer Antwan Toney.
If you don't already know him, you'll never have the chance to meet him because he gave his life in service of our community today.
He's a hero, but that may not mean much to his grieving family right now. They're likely still in shock.
This man died today because he was committed to making our community a safer place. For us. He died for us. We owe him a debt that we can never repay.
Never forget the sacrifice that law enforcement officers are willing to make for you. Never forget the tears of their families when they do. The streets of America are stained with the blood of countless officers across this great nation. Be thankful for them.
Since then, those words have been shared 38,000 times. They've also garnered 18,000 comments of support for the family and prayers for this fallen officer.
But, on a day now serving as a tragic milestone, the sheriff's office added something else.
"The weight of our loss has not lessened nor has his absence gone unnoticed," it read. "His sacrifice was great. Please remember him today. And every day. We do."
MORE TRIBUTES TO OFFICER TONEY