United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, May 26, 1926
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 25, 1926
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Federal Prohibition Agent Thomas Lankford was shot and killed while conducting an investigation in Springfield, Illinois.
Agent Lankford had been left to guard a still in the early morning hours as agents continued raids at other locations. Unaware that their still had been raided, a car that contained liquor appeared. As Agent Lankford questioned the driver he was shot and mortally wounded. When other agents returned to the scene they took him to a hospital where he died the following day.
The suspect was arrested, tried for murder, and acquitted.