Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Billy Yant was shot and killed during a traffic stop to serve a warrant for threatening phone calls. Chief Yant had gone to the suspect's home to meet deputies from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, who had obtained the warrant. As Chief Yant waited for the deputies to arrive the suspect and his wife exited the house and left their pickup truck. He stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of the Verona Christian Church. The suspect, who was the passenger, exited the truck and opened fire on Chief Yant before he could exit his patrol car. Despite being wounded, Chief Yant was able to exit his vehicle and return fire before falling to the pavement. The subject then stood over him with a .30 caliber carbine rifle and shot him a total of 13 times. Both suspects were apprehended and charged with capital murder. The husband committed suicide in jail and the wife was later deported to her native Laos. Chief Yant was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Verona Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, children, and twin sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-D57814D3- 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 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.
Chief of Police Yant gave the Verona Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Verona 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 Wilson Yant served in the Air Force (1970â1974) before joining law enforcement.
Chief of Police Billy Wilson Yant 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 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 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Verona Police Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Billy Wilson Yant's cause is highlighted.
How Billy Wilson Yant Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy Wilson Yant is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy Wilson Yant was killed by rifle; .30 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Verona Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
