Bio & Incident Details
Age: 57
Tour: 20 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire (Accidental)
Incident Date: 12/21/1932
Weapon: Officer's handgun
Suspect: Not available
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Sheriff Luther Pannett was accidentally shot and killed while investigating a suspicious noise in the cell block.
He and his wife lived in the Sheriff's Quarters in the Winchester jail. At approximately 4:45 AM, Sheriff Pannett heard a noise coming from the cell block area upstairs. After obtaining his .32 caliber service revolver and flashlight, the sheriff went upstairs to investigate.
Mrs. Pannett said she heard no further noise from the direction of the staircase until a few minutes later when she heard the sound of a gunshot.
Running to the head of the stairs, Mrs. Pannett said she called to her husband, but only received a sort of a groan. She went to the top of the steps where she found Sheriff Pannett lying on the floor of the landing unconscious with a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to the Winchester Memorial Hospital where he died later that day.
An investigation concluded that Sheriff Pannett slipped and fell on the steps of the jail and dropped his revolver, which discharged, sending a bullet into his brain. The death was ruled accidental.
Sheriff Pannett had served with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for over 20 years. He was survived by his wife.
