Gold Hill Police Department, Nevada
End of Watch Monday, July 21, 1879
Add to My HeroesHumphrey Symons
Officer Humphrey Symons was shot and killed while investigating a domestic disturbance. He was walking passed a house when he heard a commotion inside. When he entered the house the male subject immediately shot him in the head. After Officer Symons fell, the suspect shot him in the head several more times. The suspect attempted to shoot the town marshal as well when the marshal arrived, but was shot in the arm and taken into custody.
The suspect was convicted of Officer Symons' murder and sentenced to death in December of 1879. He was to be hanged on January 16, 1880, but his sentence was commuted to life in prison.
Officer Symons was survived by his expectant wife and one child and is buried in the Masonic Section of Gold Hill Cemerty, Gold Hill, Storey County, Nevada.
Bio
- Age 35
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsOfficer Symons: Thanks for your sacrifice. And thank you for serving the citizens of Gold Hill. Your service is greatly appreciated. Gold Hill is near historic Virginia City. At the time Gold Hill and Virginia City were rich boom towns, with some of the richest silver mines in America. Most of the miners were immigrants from all over the world. Gold Hill is now a very small town, with no police department. Currently Gold Hill and Virginia City are policed by the Storey County Sheriff's Office.
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