Gold Hill Police Department, Nevada
End of Watch: Monday, July 21, 1879
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 21, 1879
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Officer Humphrey Symons was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance. He was walking passed a house when he heard a commotion inside. When he entered the house the male subject immediately shot him in the head. After Officer Symons fell, the suspect shot him in the head several more times. The suspect attempted to shoot the town marshal as well when the marshal arrived, but was shot in the arm and taken into custody.
The suspect was convicted of Officer Symons' murder and sentenced to death in December of 1879. He was to be hanged on January 16, 1880, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
Officer Symons was survived by his expectant wife and one child and is buried in the Masonic Section of Gold Hill Cemerty, Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada.