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Officer Sam Edward Etheredge, Jr. | Daytona Beach Police Department, Florida
Daytona Beach Police Department, Florida

Officer

Sam Edward Etheredge, Jr.

Daytona Beach Police Department, Florida

End of Watch: Thursday, December 25, 1980

Biographical Info

Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 16

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 25, 1980
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Officer Sam Etheredge was shot and killed shortly after midnight on Christmas Day after responding to the Grandview Apartments at 141 S. Grandview Avenue for reports of a man causing a disturbance.

When they made contact with the suspect in his room, the man opened fire, striking Officer Etheredge in the torso and wounding the responding lieutenant; Officer Etheridge and the responding Lieutenant were able to return fire.

The man was convicted of Officer Etheredge's murder and sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Officer Etheredge had served with the Daytona Beach Police Department for ten years and was the first Daytona Beach officer killed in the line of duty in 35 years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.