Abbeville County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch: Sunday, December 30, 1900
Age:
Tour of Duty: 2 weeks
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 30, 1900
Weapon Used: Handgun; Pistol
Suspect Info: Shot and killed by sheriff Kennedy
Sheriff James Kennedy was shot and killed after he attempted to arrest a suspect who and just shot a man over a two dollar card game. After the suspect shot the man, he was followed by two policemen, but held them at bay with his pistol until Sheriff Kennedy arrived.
Sheriff Kennedy called to the suspect, who was hiding in his father-in-laws house, to come out. When the suspect exited the house, he started firing. Sheriff Kennedy was shot in the chest and the suspect was wounded twice in the leg by Sheriff Kennedy and the two patrolmen. The suspect then began to reload his pistol, but was shot and killed by the dying Sheriff Kennedy, who was on the ground. Sheriff Kennedy died minuets later from his wound.