United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, August 11, 1880
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 11, 1880
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentence commuted to life
Deputy Marshal Willard Ayers was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a man in Cherokeetown, Chickasaw Nation (present day Oklahoma).
The subject asked Deputy Marshal Ayers if he could get clothing and Deputy Marshal Ayers agreed. The man instead picked up a gun and shot Marshal Ayers in the head, killing him.
The man was sentenced to death and was hung April 28th, 1888, at Fort Smith Arkansas.