Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolmen Billy Patterson and Patrolman Wayne Henebry were shot and killed after Patrolman Patterson had made a traffic stop on Main Street in front of the Marion County Courthouse in Columbia. The man he had stopped had previously stated that he would kill the first police officer he saw. As a gunfight ensued, Patrolman Patterson called for assistance. Patrolman Henebry arrived, and both officers were shot and killed. The suspect, who was on parole for his conviction of killing two people in two different incidents, went to his wife's house in order to kill her as well. However, his son was at the house, shot, and killed the man. Patrolman Patterson was a United States Navy Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Columbia Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-24882857- 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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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. Billy is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Patterson gave the Columbia Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Billy Doyle Patterson served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Billy Doyle Patterson 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 69.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Columbia Police Department, 3 of 3 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. Billy Doyle Patterson's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Doyle Patterson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Doyle Patterson is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy Doyle Patterson was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Billy Doyle Patterson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Billy Doyle Patterson’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Columbia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
