Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Berry Lay succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day following the raid of a still.
As he passed the home of the individuals who owned the still an altercation occurred in which he was shot in the knee with a shotgun. One of the two subjects who attacked him then took his service revolver and shot him in the chest twice, fatally wounding him. He was taken Howard-Henderson Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds the following day.
Both suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Deputy Lay was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Lay was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-A36CC10B- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Lay served with the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lay.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Berry Lay is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Campbell County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Berry Lay's cause is highlighted.
How Berry Lay Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Berry Lay is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Berry Lay was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Campbell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
