Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia
End of Watch Tuesday, June 16, 1936
Add to My HeroesPowhatan Dance Bass
Guard Powhatan Bass was accidentally shot and killed by other guards who were firing a machine gun at a truck carrying eight escaping convicts from the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia.
During an escape attempt, the eight convicts suddenly attacked Guard Bass and another guard in the prison yard. They tied them up and put them in the back of a nearby truck. The eight prisoners then got into the truck and sped towards the prison gate.
The gate guards, not knowing that two guards were held hostage inside the truck, opened fire. Five of the convicts were shot and wounded. Guard Bass was mortally wounded and the other guard was wounded. The convicts were all taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with Guard Bass' death.
Guard Bass was a Spanish-American War veteran. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Bio
- Age 54
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Most Recent Reflection
View all 6 ReflectionsRest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.
Officer Mike Robinson
Upland Police Dept. CA
June 16, 2018
Recent LODD Deaths
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator William "Alden" Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator Samuel Poloche
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Joshua Eyer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: April 27, 2024
Sergeant Ian Taylor
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: April 26, 2024
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024