Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana
End of Watch Thursday, June 20, 1895
Add to My HeroesS. Baxter Willis
Deputies Baxter Willis and J.W. Edwards were both shot and fatally wounded when they mistook each other for a suspect they were searching for.
Both deputies, along with a railroad special agent and another deputy, were searching for a man who had fired a gun at a freight train several nights earlier. The officers had split up into two groups and searched the woods for several hours.
At around dusk the two groups encountered each other. Deputy Willis was standing on the railroad tracks when Deputy Edwards saw him, but did not recognize him. Deputy Edwards ordered him to raise his hands and then opened fire as he turned towards him.
Thinking he was being fired upon by the suspect, Deputy Willis returned the fire, striking Deputy Edwards. Deputy Edwards was killed instantly. Deputy Willis died as a result of his wounds three weeks later.
Bio
- Age Not available
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire (Inadvertent)
- Incident Date Wednesday, May 29, 1895
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsDeputy Sheriff Willis,
On today, the 125th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Ouachita Parish.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
June 20, 2020
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