Special Agent Ronald A. Williams

Special Agent Ronald A. Williams

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

End of Watch Thursday, June 26, 1975

Add to My Heroes

Ronald A. Williams

Special Agent Ronald Williams and Special Agent Jack Coler were shot and killed at the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

The agents were attempting to serve a warrant for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. When they stopped a vehicle at 11:50 a.m., they requested backup once the men in the vehicle started firing at them. When responding agents arrived on the scene, they were also fired upon. They were unable to reach Agent Williams and Agent Coler until 4:25 p.m. Once discovered, the agents' vehicles had 125 bullet holes. Agent Williams had been shot in the left arm, left side, right hand, and head. Agent Coler had multiple wounds to the arm and head. Both agents had been killed at close range.

Only one of the four suspects was charged with their murders and was captured in Vancouver, Canada, on February 6, 1976. The 31-year-old suspect, unbeknownst to Agent Williams and Agent Coler, had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for the attempted murder of a police officer in Wisconsin. He was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life. In 1979, he and other inmates fired at prison guards when they escaped from prison. He was denied clemency in 2017 and wasn't supposed to be released until 2035. In 2025, on his last day in office, President Joseph Biden commuted his sentence to home confinement.

Special Agent Williams had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for three years. He was survived by his parents and a sister.

Bio

Age 27
Tour 3 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Location South Dakota
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender One sentenced to life

warrant

LODD Mapping FAQs

Most Recent Reflection

View all 18 Reflections

I met Ron in 1972 right after he took his Oath of Office to become an FBI Agent. I was working for the Dept of Justice, Attorney General’s Office, John Mitchell. The FBI shared space with the DOJ since their bldg was under construction across the street. Ron’s Badge # 9111. We shared a relationship till 1975 although it continued long distance. This June 26 marks 50 yrs since Ron & Jack tragically lost their lives. I’m launching a book about our relationship on July 30th which would have been Ron’s 78th birthday. It’s been 50 yrs & I still fight back the tears. We were at Justice when Hoover died & when the first 2 female Agents joined the FBI. “Badge 9111: A Testimonial to an FBI Hero” I miss Ron every day. Three days before his demise he asked me to meet his parents. He was making arrangements for us to fly to California but that was not meant to be. Ron was a pilot & he spoke 4 languages. He was the kindest person I’ve ever met. He’d give you the shirt off his back & he did just that when Jack laid unconscious that horrific day. Ron was shot several times & managed to drag himself back to Jack making a tourniquet from his shirt so Jack wouldn’t bleed out. They were both amazing heroes & I won’t let their memories be forgotten.

Marie Szwed Kogon aka Teal Marie Devine
Ron Williams girlfriend of 4 years

April 22, 2025