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Deputy Sheriff William G. Ezell, Sr. | Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee
Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

Deputy Sheriff

William G. Ezell, Sr.

Davidson County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee

End of Watch: Saturday, April 14, 1934

Biographical Info

Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: April 9, 1934
Weapon Used: Officer's rifle
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Sheriff William Ezell was accidentally shot and killed while attempting to hurriedly load a machine gun after several officers encountered members of the Dillinger Gang.

Two patrol officers had encountered four members of the gang parked in front of a drug store. The gang members held the two officers at gunpoint, using a machine gun, and ordered them back into their car before they fled. The two officers alerted the department and Deputy Ezell, along with a detective, were attempting to load their machine gun to join the chase when it discharged. Deputy Ezell was struck in the chest with a .45 caliber round. He succumbed to his wound three days later.

Deputy Ezell was survived by his wife, two sons, six brothers, and three sisters. He is buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.