Alabama Department of Corrections, Alabama
End of Watch: Friday, January 18, 1974
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: January 18, 1974
Weapon Used: Edged weapon
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1991.
Officer Luell Barrow was stabbed to death during a prisoner uprising at the state prison in Atmore.
Officer Barrow and another guard were taken hostage by four inmates wielding homemade knives. They demanded to speak to the commissioner and while talking to him, stabbed both officers, killing Officer Barrow and injuring the other officer. They were rushed at that point and one of the hostage-takers was killed by gunfire.
One inmate, serving five life sentences for 1971 convictions of four counts of burglary and one count of rape, was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Barrow. The inmate had been sentenced under a Civil War-era law which supported the death penalty for lifers convicted of murder. In 1989 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that law was unconstitutional and overturned the conviction. He was paroled on May 21, 1991.
Officer Barrow had previously served with the United States Navy in World War II.