Patrolman Jimmy A. Traylor

Jimmy A. Traylor

Trooper Jimmy Traylor was shot and killed after he answered a radio call from another trooper asking for help in making an arrest. The shooting occurred when a man and his son drove into the yard of their home after being chased by the other trooper for failing to dim their headlights. A struggle resulted with the two and the son grabbed the troopers service revolver. The trooper ran back to his patrol car and got another gun as Trooper Traylor was arriving on the scene. During an exchange of gun shots Trooper Traylor was shot three times in the chest and killed instantly. The other trooper was shot three times in the abdomen and seriously injured. The father was shot twice in the arm and leg.

Other officers arrived on the scene and took the father into custody. The son had escaped. A few hours later deputies took the son into custody after he was found at a nearby house hiding under a bed.

Both father and son, 21 and 42, along with both their wives were charged with murder. The son was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The father was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. Their wives were convicted of interfering with an officer and both were sentenced to two years. The son was paroled in 1982. In 1999 his parole was revoked and he was sent back to prison to serve the remainder of his life sentence after he was charged with drunk driving and a shotgun was found in the trunk of his car. He died in prison in 2004.