Creek County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma
End of Watch: Thursday, July 20, 1911
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: July 20, 1911
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Deputy Thomas Tyus was shot and killed by another officer who mistook him for a burglar.
Deputy Tyus had gone to a home to serve a warrant on a bootlegging suspect but the suspect was not there. A woman at the home thought Deputy Tyus was a burglar and left through a back door to notify an officer.
When the officer arrived spotted Deputy Tyus and started to approach him. Deputy Tyus also saw the officer and, thinking he was the suspect, also approached. The officer thought Deputy Tyus was going to attack him and opened fire, killing him.
Deputy Tyus was survived by his four children.