Greenwood County Sheriff's Office, Kansas
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 21 years
Badge Number: GW1
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 19, 2005
Weapon Used: Handgun; .44 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Sheriff Matthew Samuels was shot and killed at approximately 10:00 am as he and two deputies served an arrest warrant at a home near Virgil, Kansas.
Three home occupants were taken into custody following the shooting, but the shooter barricaded himself in the home.
The man was taken into custody by the Kansas Highway Patrol SRT later in the night. During the arrest, the suspect fired several rounds at the team, striking their ballistic shields. The suspect who shot Sheriff Samuels was convicted of capital murder in October 2007 and sentenced to death. On August 24th, 2012, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial. The United States Supreme Court then upheld his original conviction and death sentence.
Sheriff Samuels had served with the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office for 21 years and had served as sheriff for five years. He is survived by his wife, who works as a correctional officer, son, and daughter.
Sheriff Samuels' father and grandfather had also served in law enforcement.