Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi
End of Watch Thursday, December 31, 1981
Add to My HeroesBilly M. Langham
Trooper Billy Langham was shot and killed after stopping a speeding motorist on Highway 49 near Collins, Mississippi.
The vehicle was occupied by four male subjects. Trooper Langham noticed a butcher knife on the front seat and removed the front seat occupant of the vehicle to be searched. He also removed the knife and placed it on the top of his patrol car. As he was bent over searching the car the subject he grabbed the knife from the top of the cruiser and began stabbing Trooper Langham in the back.
He attempted to draw his weapon but was overpowered by the subjects and fatally shot with it. The suspects fled but were followed by witnesses . The suspects, 30, 37, and two, 27, were apprehended an hour later when they attempted to tun a roadblock on U,S. 49 south of Collins.
Two suspects, 27 and 30, were sentenced to life. The other 27-year-old was sentenced to 25 years. The killer, 37, was sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial and sentenced to life on October 26, 1992. He died in prison in 2009. As of December 4, 2022, the 30-year-old was in prison. Another was released in 1989. The fourth died in prison on March 7, 2018.
Trooper Langham had served with the Mississippi Highway Patrol for eight years. He was survived by his wife and children.
A section of US Highway 49, in Collins, was dedicated to Trooper Langham's memory.
Bio
- Age 37
- Tour 8 years
- Badge J-52
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 77 ReflectionsTime does not slow down… we have learned to get through holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, births, graduations, weddings, grandchildren born, great grandchildren…etc
But this day.. the day of your violent MURDER.. gets me.. haunts me.. I relive it by the hour each year…but
Tomorrow I will be better, I will be grateful and thankful and blessed …but just know that today..
You are still loved, still missed and still my hero
I love you daddy …
until I see you again…
Barbie Langham Diamond
Daughter
January 5, 2023
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