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Family keeping heat on police for answers in Marine's beating death

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The family of a Marine who was beaten and killed in Cobb County is working to keep his murder investigation a top priority.

On Wednesday, the family of Zach Gamble held a visitation in advance of his funeral scheduled for Thursday.

"My family's heart is completely broken," said Gamble's aunt, Brandy Cook. "Zach has always been the glue to our family."

The family thought that the 34-year-old would recover, but he passed away April 8th, leading to louder cries for justice.

"Now that it has escalated to this level and he is no longer with us, we will not rest until we find out who has done this," said Cook.

Gamble's family told Channel 2's Carl Willis that it is gaining plenty of support for its cause online.

"We are getting signatures every day and we really want to continue with pressure so we can find out what has happened to Zach," said Gamble's uncle, Neal Cook.

So far, the family's petition on Change.org to continue the investigation has over 1,500 signatures.

Relatives said the community is rallying around the Marine who served two tours of duty in Iraq, only to be killed on home soil.

Police have no suspects nearly three weeks after someone snuck up on Gamle and attacked him from behind.

"Whoever did this was a coward, they really were, to take such a low blow and hit him the way they did," said Gamble's aunt, Crystal Chance. "His brain damage was extensive."

The incident happened in the early morning hours of March 25, after Gamble was asked to leave a party at the Concord Apartments in Smyrna.

Family members said they would pause to say their final respects, but said their search for justice will not end until there is an arrest.

"We really want (investigators) to work hard, not just for our family," said Chance. "Everybody has to understand that this person is dangerous and they're still out there so, it could be their family that this person attacks next."

Gamble's funeral is scheduled for April 12. It will start at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Woodstock. Gamble's family said the service will be open to the public.

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