Hinds County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 18, 1922
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 18, 1922
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Jailer John Harris was shot and killed by an inmate who was attempting to escape from the Hinds County Jail. Another person had smuggled a handgun to the prisoner.
The inmate had been sentenced to death for the murders of Federal Prohibition Agent Jacob Green and Town Marshal William Dunnam, of the Richton Police Department.
Despite being shot, Jailer Harris was able to shoot and kill the prisoner after overpowering him and gaining control of the handgun. Jailer Harris then walked to sheriff's office where he told the sheriff what had happened before dying.
Jailer Harris had served with the Hinds County Sheriff's Office for 10 years.