Kanawha County Constable's Office - Washington District, West Virginia
End of Watch: Saturday, April 21, 1934
Age: 60
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 21, 1934
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Constable Ross Hager was shot and killed in Charleston while he and another constable transported a prisoner to jail. The two constables had arrested the man on a peace warrant.
As their vehicle stopped at a red light at the intersection of Clendenin Street and Virginia Street the man produced a revolver and shot Constable Hager several times, killing him. The other constable jumped into the backseat and struck the man in the head with a pair of handcuffs. He then subdued the subject with the help of several citizens.
The man, 37, was taken to jail and coincidentally placed into the same jail cell as one of Constable Hager's sons, who was serving a sentence for arson.
The man was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on November 18th, 1934. He was still in prison on June 10, 1958, when he was questioned during a parole corruption investigation.
Constable Hager had served in law enforcement for 16 years. He was survived by his wife, five sons, four daughters, five brothers, and sister.