Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota
End of Watch: Friday, November 6, 1885
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 6, 1885
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Acquitted at trial
Town Marshal Billy Wilson was shot and killed when he attempted to disarm three cowboys who were in town.
Rapid City had an ordinance prohibiting the carrying of any weapon inside the city limits. When Marshal Wilson attempted to disarm three cowboys inside the Horse Market Saloon, the cowboys opened fire, leaving Wilson dead and one of the cowboys wounded.
All three suspects were arrested and charged with murder. They were acquitted after a trail in which they claimed they killed Marshal Wilson in self defense.
Town Marshal Wilson is buried in Evergreen Abandon, Rapid Valley, Pennington County, South Dakota.