Deputy Sheriff James Alfred Brent, Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Virginia

Deputy Sheriff James Alfred Brent

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Virginia

End of Watch Friday, January 25, 1963

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James Alfred Brent

Deputy Sheriff James Brent was shot and killed when he, the sheriff, and another deputy responded to a domestic disturbance in which the man was threatening people with a shotgun.

Deputies had obtained a lunacy warrant and were attempting to serve it when Deputy Brent was struck by a shotgun blast as he entered the residence in the Morattico section of the county.

Deputy Brent was attempting to serve a lunacy warrant in the tiny fishing village of Morattico when he was shot. Three hours later, state and county officers apprehended the suspect after he was flushed out of his home with tear gas.

The suspect, 41, was a former mental patient released two years earlier. He was charged with murder and sent to a mental hospital in Petersburg to determine if he was fit to stand trial.

Deputy Brent was a United States Army veteran of World War II and had served with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office for three years. He was survived by his wife, stepchildren, and mother.

He is buried at the White Marsh Methodist Church Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Virginia.

Bio

Age 36
Tour 3 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Apprehended

domestic, EDP, weapons violation, warrant service

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Deputy Sheriff Brent,
On today, the 60th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army during World War II. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 25, 2023