Patrolman Jerrell P. Vaughan

Jerrell P. Vaughan

Patrolman Jerrell Vaughan was shot and killed after he and another officer stopped two men in a vehicle who were involved in a barroom brawl earlier in the night.

As Officer Vaughan approached the suspect’s vehicle he was shot once in the chest. Before he died, Officer Vaughan was able to return fire, striking the suspect five times in the chest.

The suspect survived and was later convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. He was later awarded a new trial that resulted in a second murder conviction and was sentenced to life. In 1975 he escaped from prison. He was captured five years later in South Lake Tahoe, California. In 1985 he was released from prison when evidence surfaced revealing that Patrolman Vaughan may have been killed by the suspect's companion.

Officer Vaughan is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.