Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, West Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, November 18, 1976
Age: 62
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 18, 1976
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff Richards was shot and killed while he and a state trooper served a lunacy warrant on a man living in a cave. As the officers approached the area, after walking several hundred yards from the road, the suspect noticed them and began to walk away. The officers identified the man and stated their intent. The man suddenly turned around and opened fire with a rifle, striking Sheriff Richards in the throat. Both officers were able to return fire, fatally wounding the suspect.