Cape Charles Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch Friday, November 29, 1918
Add to My HeroesJames A. Taylor
Town Sergeant James Taylor succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day in a shootout with a man wanted for a double shooting.
The previous shooting occurred earlier in the evening at a local dance hall. A subject had shot two men after fighting over a woman. All three men involved in the shooting were mess attendants at the Cherrystone Naval Base.
Sergeant Taylor, along with several sailors from the naval base, located the subject hiding in a house. As Sergeant Taylor entered a room to make the arrest, the man opened fire, striking him in the arm, leg, and stomach.
Despite exchanging shots with the sailors, the suspect was able to evade capture at that time. Sergeant Taylor was taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, in Norfolk, where he died the following day.
The suspect was arrested in Wilmington, Delaware, several days later and extradited to Virginia. He was convicted of Sergeant Taylor's murder, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed on June 27, 1919.
Sergeant Taylor had served with the Cape Charles Police Department for 15 years and had previously served as a lifesaver for the United States Life-Saving Service at Smith Island. He was survived by his wife and eight children. He is buried at Cape Charles Cemetery, Northhampton County, Virginia.
Bio
- Age 61
- Tour 15 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Thursday, November 28, 1918
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Executed in 1919
Most Recent Reflection
View all 10 ReflectionsJust found out this information, you were my great grandfather, your daughter Anna was my grandma. Sorry I didn’t get to know you.
Millie musgrave , no rank
Great grandfather
November 13, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths
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
Police Officer Luis M. Huesca
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Tobin Bolter
Ada County Sheriff's Office, ID
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo "Freddy" Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Investigator Brian Herbert
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: April 17, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024