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| Trooper First Class Thomas Dean Hercules
West Virginia State Police
West Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 12, 1977 Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: Not available Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, January 12, 1977
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Committed suicide Trooper Thomas Hercules and Trooper Charles Johnson were shot and killed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, while serving an arrest warrant on a burglary suspect. After the initial arrest the officers took the suspect to his home to allow him to collect some personal belongings. Trooper Hercules waited in the patrol car as Trooper Johnson took him inside.
While inside the suspect was able to gain control of Trooper Johnson's service weapon and shot him to death. The man then ran outside and exchanged shots with Trooper Hercules. The suspect then stole the patrol car and fled. He committed suicide three days later as officers closed in on his location.
Trooper Hercules had served with the agency for 19 years and was a veteran of the Korean War having served with the Marines. He was survived by his wife, Shirley, and their sons Allen and David. Related Line of Duty Deaths | |
