Greensboro Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Sunday, May 31, 1959
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 31, 1959
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Corporal Joe Massey was shot and killed in an act of revenge by a cab driver to whom he had written a ticket earlier in the morning.
The cab driver dropped his fare off and then went home to retrieve his pistol. He then waited for Corporal Massey to perform his routine rounds. He located Corporal Massey sitting in a service station across from 625 East Market Street completing paperwork shortly after midnight. The man entered the service station, called out to Officer Massey, and then shot him six times as he sat at the desk.
The 31-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.
Corporal Massey had served with the Greensboro Police Department for 12 years and was one of the first African American officers hired by the agency. He was a widower.