Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Florida
End of Watch Thursday, February 21, 1918
Add to My HeroesCornelius Rain
Deputy Sheriff Neal Rain was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a fugitive who was wanted for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Charles McCraw in Berrien County, Georgia.
The subject had murdered Deputy McCraw as the deputy attempted to arrest him for failing to register for the WWI draft. After murdering Deputy McCraw, the man fled to a relative's home in Meredith, Levy County, Florida. Authorities learned of his location and sent a Coffee County sheriff's deputy to Florida. Upon the deputy's arrival he asked for assistance from Alachua County. Deputy McCraw, who lived in Archer, went to the home in Meredith to assist with arrest.
When they arrived at the residence the elderly homeowner warned the officers not to come in and then fired at the officers from a bed. Once the Coffee County deputy disarmed him, the man told the officers that the wanted man was in an adjacent room and warned them not to enter it. As Deputy Rain opened the door to the room he was struck by a shotgun blast fired by the subject.
The man was able to flee from the house. He was shot and killed by a posse after wounding three other posse members.
Deputy Rain had served with the Alachua County Sheriff's Office for one year. He was survived by his wife and four children.
Bio
- Age 40
- Tour 1 year
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Shotgun
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsRest in peace Deputy Sheriff Rain.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
March 30, 2019
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