Chief Special Agent Will C. Reed

Will C. Reed

Chief Special Agent Will Reed was shot and killed at 3:00 am while searching for three men who had reportedly burglarized a freight car in Elbing, Kansas.

He and his partner received word that the suspects had boarded a train heading to the railroad yards in North Wichita, Kansas. The officers waited for the train to arrive and began searching for the suspects.

The men hid in nearby weeds but were observed by the officers. As the officers approached the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Reed. His partner returned fire but did not strike the suspects. All three suspects were apprehended several hours later.

Agent Reed's killer, age 30, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years. The other two, 17 and 38, were both convicted of manslaughter. The 17-year-old was sentenced to 5 to 20 years and the other to two years.

Agent Reed was survived by his wife and two children.