Marshall County Sheriff's Office, Iowa
End of Watch: Saturday, September 9, 1978
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 2 weeks
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 9, 1978
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Jailer Harry Davis was shot and killed by a man who opened fire on the county jail's lobby using a high powered rifle at approximately 1:15 am.
Jailer Davis was sitting in the lobby when the man entered and opened fire from outside of the building in Marshalltown, firing a rifle and a revolver through the front windows. The subject was captured later in the day and charged with first-degree murder.
It is believed he mistook Jailer Davis for the county sheriff, whom he held a grudge against.
Jailer Davis had served with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office as a part-time jailer for only two weeks. He was survived by his wife and three children.