Charles Armstrong Henry
Agency patch
Officer

Charles Armstrong Henry

Shelbyville Police Department — Shelbyville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch October 31, 1911
Age 24
The Vigil Panel 26 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Charles Henry and Officer Redden Purdy were shot and killed by a suspect they had arrested earlier in the day for drunk and disorderly conduct. After posting bail the man swore vengeance on the officers who arrested him. Later that night he ambushed the officers and killed them both. The suspect was apprehended two months later, convicted of two counts of murder, and sentenced to 40 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-AD24E8EA
Stewardship
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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.
Officer Henry served with the Shelbyville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shelbyville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Henry.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Shelbyville, Bedford County, TN
Platform Identity spd.bedford.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 31, 1911
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Officer Charles Armstrong Henry 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 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 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Shelbyville Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Shelbyville Police Department
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Armstrong Henry's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Charles Armstrong Henry Compares

Age at Death
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Armstrong Henry is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles Armstrong Henry was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909