Sergeant James Amos Meeks, Mississippi Department of Corrections, Mississippi

Sergeant James Amos Meeks

Mississippi Department of Corrections, Mississippi

End of Watch Tuesday, September 12, 1972

James Amos Meeks

Sergeant James Meeks was shot and killed by an inmate at the Mississippi State Penitentiary.

The inmate had been assigned to a work detail at Sergeant Meeks' home which was located inside the prison complex. When Sergeant Meeks arrived home, at the end of his shift, the inmate attacked him, gained control of his service revolver and shot him. He was apprehended a short time later by a state trooper and a correctional officer.

The inmate, who was serving a life sentence for the murder of a Chinese merchant in 1969, was convicted of first-degree murder and received another life sentence on March 1st, 1973.

Sergeant Meeks was survived by his wife and six children. He was a retired U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant.

Bio

Age 42
Tour Not available
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Sentenced to life

at home, escape attempt

Most Recent Reflection

View all 10 Reflections

My family lived at Parchman in 1972, We lived at Camp 11. My step dad was too a Sergeant at that time. Thank you Sergeant Meeks for your service sir! God does have a Special Place for our Peacemakers! RIP my Brother!

Captain Timmy Townsend
Cleveland, MS Police Dept.

October 18, 2017