Don Stephenson
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Don Stephenson

Felonious
End of Watch January 22, 1921
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 40 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Don Stephenson was shot and killed while working a prohibition enforcement detail with several other officers. Two other officers were wounded in the shootout. Four men were apprehended and charged with murder. Two were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. The other two were convicted of second degree murder. One was sentenced to 30 years and the other to 20 years. All four were paroled in December of 1931. One had his parole revoked in 1937. He escaped from prison four time between 1945 and 1951.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-4D7BCE61
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.
Deputy Sheriff Stephenson served with the Colbert County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscumbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Stephenson.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Tuscumbia, Colbert County, AL
Platform Identity ccso.colbert.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 1921
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Don Stephenson 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%.

At Colbert 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.

Colbert County Sheriff's Office
10
of 10 officers
100% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% 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. Don Stephenson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Don Stephenson Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Don Stephenson is highlighted in Jan.

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. Don Stephenson was killed by gun.

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