Branchville Police Department, South Carolina
End of Watch Sunday, January 16, 1944
Add to My HeroesWalter S. Dukes
Chief Walter Dukes was shot and killed and Deputy Sheriff Gary Fairy was shot and fatally wounded when they attempted to serve a warrant on a man at his home.
Earlier in the day the suspect had been causing a scene and brandishing a weapon, which was confiscated. The suspect then threatened the Mayor with another firearm, demanding his previous weapon be returned, which lead to a warrant being issued for his arrest.
When Sheriff Dukes and Deputy Sheriff Fairy attempted to issue the warrant, the suspect asked, and was granted, permission to get his hat, but instead he grabbed a gun and opened fire. Chief Dukes died en route to the hospital in Orangeburg. Deputy Fairy was shot through the chest but was able to return fire and killed the suspect. Deputy Fairy died at the county hospital four days later.
Bio
- Age 65
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 5 ReflectionsThis was my Great-Grandfather whom I never had the honor of meeting. I heard his story foe many years and am so glad to have this account.
Heather Hardin Holliday
great-Granddaughter
May 28, 2021
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024