Bio & Incident Details
Age: 34
Tour: Not available
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Kentucky
Incident Date: 2/23/1924
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Not available
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Federal Prohibition Agent Willie Saylor was shot and killed in Pineville, Kentucky, when the father and brother of a prisoner he was transporting attempted to free the man.
On February 23rd, Agent Saylor had made an arrest while breaking up a moonshine still. He was accompanied by his brother Rusaw Saylor at the time of the incident. While transporting the prisoner, Agent Saylor's car tire went flat near Gibson Station. As he was repairing the flat tire, the father and brother of the suspect approached them, blocked the car with their vehicle, and requested that he be released, offering to pay. Agent Saylor refused. The father, a local justice of the peace, had a drawn shotgun and Agent Saylor tried to take the gun away. Agent Saylor was the first person shot, but it is unclear if it was by the shotgun or another weapon. The father and both sons were killed, and Agent Saylor was taken to a hospital where he died the following day.
A grand jury hearing on cleared all agents by the Federal court in London, Kentucky regarding involvement in the shootings.
Agent Saylor was survived by his wife and five children.
