Greenville County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch: Saturday, June 11, 1927
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 11, 1927
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 10 years
Sheriff Willis was shot and killed while standing in his yard by an assassin hired by the former sheriff of Greenville County.
The suspect was arrested three years later. He confessed that he shot Sheriff Willis after the former sheriff paid him $500 to kill him.
The assassin was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. After many mistrials, a Greenville County Deputy Sheriff and the former sheriff were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison on December 12, 1930. Both were pardoned by Governor Olin D. Johnston on January 2, 1939.
Sheriff Willis was a WWI U.S. Army veteran in addition to his service as a law enforcement officer.