Lexington County Sheriff's Department, South Carolina
End of Watch: Sunday, November 22, 1953
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 22, 1953
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1972
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Price was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Highway 215 and U.S. 321 in West Columbia.
Deputy Price was driving home at the end of his shift when he noticed a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road. As he approached the vehicle he encountered the suspect who was intoxicated and attacked Deputy Price with a knife. The man then drew a weapon and shot him several times.
Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Price was able to return fire and then drive to the parking lot of a nearby business to summon help to his location.
The suspect remained at large for seven years. He was arrested in 1960, convicted of Deputy Price's murder, and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 1972.
Deputy Price had served with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for one month and previously served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for seven years. He was a United States Army veteran of WWII. He was survived by his wife and son.