Homestead Police Department, Florida
End of Watch: Friday, June 15, 1923
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 15, 1923
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Lynched by mob
Town Marshal Charles Bryant was shot and killed during a struggle with a suspect at approximately 2:00 pm.
He was conducting a raid on a pool hall suspected of serving illegal liquor.
The two men fell down a staircase, and the suspect was able to gain control of Marshal Bryant's service revolver. The man then shot Marshal Bryant several times.
An angry mob lynched the man and three other people in retaliation for Marshal Bryant's murder.
Marshal Bryant had served as marshal for only two years. He had previously served as a Dade County deputy sheriff and a police officer in Blakely, Georgia. He was survived by his three children. His wife died in surgery the week prior.