Park Ranger Robert Lewis McGhee, Jr.

Park Ranger Robert Lewis McGhee, Jr. | United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, U.S. Government
United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, U.S. Government
Park Ranger Robert Lewis McGhee, Jr.

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, U.S. Government

End of Watch Saturday, May 26, 1990

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Robert Lewis McGhee, Jr.

Park Ranger Robert McGhee was shot and killed in the Gulf Islands National Seashore Park, Mississippi, by two convicts who had escaped from a Florida correctional facility. The convicts were able to steal a .38 caliber revolver from one of the corrections officers during the escape.

A female hostage the two had taken was able to escape and notified police of their location, causing the suspects to flee into the park. Ranger McGhee stopped the suspects when they ran a stop sign, not knowing that they were wanted. During the stop the suspects opened fire, killing Ranger McGhee.

The suspects were apprehended after a shootout with another police officer in which one of the suspects was wounded. They were found guilty of murder of a federal police officer and sentenced to life in prison.

One of the suspects, John Woolard, later escaped from Parchman Prison in 2000 with yet another prisoner. He was recaptured, after an extensive manhunt, in Lowell, Indiana.

Ranger McGhee was survived by his wife, Linda, and their daughter Karla, and Kevin McGhee.

Bio

  • Age 50
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge Not available

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Location Mississippi
  • Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
  • Offender Sentenced to life

escapee, traffic stop

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I recently discovered this memorial website page when I was looking up an article on the details of how you passed. I miss you and my dad so very much and I have been trying to collect any articles, photos, and newspaper clippings that I don’t have. I think about the memories of my dad everyday and picture what it would have been like to meet you. You are my hero and I love you, my dad, and our family so very much. It is such an honor to be one of your granddaughters, thank you for your service and your sacrifice.
RIP Robert Lewis McGhee Jr. and Kevin Howard McGhee

Haley McGhee

September 22, 2021

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