Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Benjamin McDonald was shot and killed as he and another officer responded to a disturbance call involving a drunk driver in the Lanett Triangle area.
As Officer McDonald ordered the driver to stop the passenger opened fire with a shotgun, striking Officer McDonald and the other officer. Both officers were transported to a local hospital where Officer McDonald died six days later.
Both subjects were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. A year later one was granted a new trial and sentenced to two and a half years.
Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Officer McDonald was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-D7098F24- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer McDonald served with the Lanett Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lanett community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McDonald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Benjamin T. McDonald is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin T. McDonald's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin T. McDonald Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin T. McDonald is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin T. McDonald was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Lanett Police Department are honored on badge.nw.