Fayette County Sheriff's Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, February 11, 1953
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 11, 1953
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 15 years
Deputy Clarence Kelly was shot and killed after arresting two juveniles who were harassing other passengers on a bus. Unbeknownst to Deputy Kelly, the two boys had burglarized a store two days earlier and were returning from St. Louis after disposing of the stolen items.
Because they were juveniles, Deputy Kelly placed them both in the back of his patrol car and drove them to the jail. As he was pulling into the jail's garage one of the boys produced a handgun and shot Deputy Kelly in the back of the head. The two boys escaped but were captured by a district game warden following a massive manhunt.
The suspects, ages 14 and 15, were charged with Deputy Kelly's murder. Charges against the 14 year-old were dropped. The 15 year-old who admitted to the shooting was sentenced to 15 years in Sheridan State Reformatory.
Deputy Kelly had served with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department for three years.