Sheriff Harold Ray Presley

Harold Ray Presley

Sheriff Harold Presley was shot and killed by a suspect who had fled from police earlier in the night.

The suspect had fled the scene of a roadblock and exchanged shots with pursuing officers. He managed to elude officers during a foot chase after crashing his vehicle. Later in the evening, Sheriff Presley received a call from a homeowner whose dogs were barking.

When he arrived on the scene at approximately 5:15 am, he and the homeowner went to a shed on the property. When Sheriff Presley opened the door, the suspect inside immediately opened fire, striking Sheriff Presley several times. Although mortally wounded, Sheriff Presley was able to return fire and kill the suspect as well.

Sheriff Presley was a U.S Army veteran of the Vietnam war and had been with the Lee County Sheriff's Department for 13 years, and had been the sheriff for eight years.