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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ralph King succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he and two other deputies were ambushed while searching for a still.
Several moonshiners opened fire on the deputies as they approached the still, striking Deputy King and another deputy with a shotgun blast. Both were transported to a Knoxville hospital in critical condition. Deputy King succumbed to his wounds.
Seven subjects were arrested in connection with the shooting. Two of the men were charged with murder while the others had there charges dropped. The other two, brothers, 21 and 23, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 21 years each. On January 15, 1939, Governor Gordan Browning commuted their convictions and sentences to 3 to 10 years for voluntary manslaughter.
Deputy King was survived by his wife, three sons, four daughter, brother, and two sisters.
Survivors
Deputy King was survived by his wife, three sons, four daughter, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff King served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Knox County Sheriff's Department has lost 11 officers; 7 of them killed feloniously.
Ralph is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 1 officer at Knox County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1933, 9 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ralph was 46. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Knox County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.5; the middle age was 38.
Ralph was 46. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41.
Ralph was 46. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Ralph was 46. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 14.3% of these deaths at Knox County Sheriff's Department; July holds the most, 28.6%. Tuesdays: 28.6%.
September holds 9% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Tuesdays: 13.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 63.6% of all 11 deaths at Knox County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 28.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 12.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Knox County Sheriff's Department has 11 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
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Doctor A. Shipe May 21, 1888
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William Walker
Jul 21, 1906
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George S. Williams Jun 3, 1927
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Ralph W. King
Sep 12, 1933
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Harley Beecher Nelson Jul 6, 1947
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James Kenneth Kennedy
Mar 27, 1984
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Steve Keith McCulley
Feb 16, 1999
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Angela K. Payne
Feb 26, 2000
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L. Keith Lyon
May 9, 2006
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Toby Jay Keiser
Jan 18, 2021
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Tucker Blakely
Oct 2, 2023
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Knox County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
