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Deputy Sheriff John L. Burns | McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma
McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

Deputy Sheriff

John L. Burns

McCurtain County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma

End of Watch: Tuesday, November 15, 1927

Biographical Info

Age: 40
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 15, 1927
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1934

Deputy Burns was shot and killed while he and four other deputies destroyed a large still of illegal whiskey. A man hidden in the woods opened fire on the deputies with a rifle and a shotgun, fatally wounding Deputy Burns. Deputy Burns was shot in the back several times.

The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life, He was paroled on November 19, 1934.

Deputy Burns had been with the agency for ten years and was survived by his wife and five children.