Virginia Department of Corrections, Virginia
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 16, 1936
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: June 16, 1936
Weapon Used: Rifle; Machine gun
Suspect Info: Not available
Guard Powhatan Bass was accidentally shot and killed by other guards who were firing a machine gun at a truck carrying eight escaping convicts from the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia.
During an escape attempt, the eight convicts suddenly attacked Guard Bass and another guard in the prison yard. They tied them up and put them in the back of a nearby truck. The eight prisoners then got into the truck and sped towards the prison gate.
The gate guards, not knowing that two guards were held hostage inside the truck, opened fire. Five of the convicts were shot and wounded. Guard Bass was mortally wounded and the other guard was wounded. The convicts were all taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with Guard Bass' death.
Guard Bass was a Spanish-American War veteran. He was survived by his wife and two children.