Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch Wednesday, January 29, 1930
Add to My HeroesLee Wright
Deputy Sheriff Lee Wright succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two weeks earlier in Chandler, Arizona, while attempting to arrest a group of criminals who were on a cross-country crime spree.
Two of the subjects, a man and woman, had murdered Corporal Brady Paul of the Pennsylvania State Highway Patrol on December 27th, 1929. They had picked up a third subject who had recently been released from prison in Texas. The trio then abducted a Pinal County, Arizona, sheriff's deputy.
Deputy Wright and another deputy rammed the vehicle into a curb in front of the San Marcos Hotel, stopping it. Deputy Wright was then struck by a gunshot during a shootout with the subjects. The subjects then threw the abducted deputy from the car and escaped.
They were apprehended several days by a posse of several hundred officers and citizens. The couple were extradited to Pennsylvania where they were convicted of Corporal Paul's murder, sentenced to death, and subseqently executed on February 23rd, 1931. The third subject was convicted of Deputy Wright's murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Deputy Wright had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for 32 years. He was survived by his wife and brother. His brother served as the county sheriff at the time of the murder.
Bio
- Age 63
- Tour 32 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Monday, January 13, 1930
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Executed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 12 ReflectionsDeputy Lee Wright was my G-G-G-G-uncle. This guy was as tough as they come. I thank him, and all officers for their service and their sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe. I know that I sleep peacefully at night, because they don't.
Beverly Anderson
G-G-G-G-niece
April 16, 2022
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