He is a former police officer of the King County Sheriff's Department, who was shot in the line of duty and fell into a coma, only to wake up and find himself in the midst of the zombie apocalypse. He travels to Atlanta, Georgia, searching for his wife, Lori, and his son, Carl, who have traveled to Atlanta with Rick's best friend, Shane Walsh, in search of a safe-haven. After he finds his wife and son, along with a group of survivors, he gradually takes on the role of their leader.