Mohave County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch: Monday, July 22, 1974
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 1 month
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 22, 1974
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Sheriff James Lewis was shot and killed with a high-powered rifle while investigating a domestic assault at a service station on Arizona 95 known as Cook's Corner.
After responding to the call in Mohave Valley, 20 miles south of Bullhead City, a service-station operator fired a single shot from a rifle at close range. The shot instantly killed Deputy Lewis. A witness was also wounded by the man as he fled the scene.
The man, 53, was convicted of after his first two trials ended in mistrials. On March 10, 1975, he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, assault with intent to kill, and sentenced to 25 years to life. In 1968 and part of 1969 the suspect served a year in prison for stabbing a bartender during a drunken rage. On June 25, 1986, the Arizona Supreme Court denied his appeal.
Deputy Lewis had served with the Mohave County Sheriff's Office for 13 months and had previously served with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office for one year. He was survived by his wife and child. He had a masters degree in police science.