Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Eugene Crum was shot and killed near the Mingo County Courthouse in Williamson at about noon.
Sheriff Crum was eating lunch in his vehicle while conducting surveillance on a suspected illegal pharmaceutical operation. The suspect approached Sheriff Crum's vehicle and shot Sheriff Crum four times at point-blank range.
The suspect, whose father described him as mentally unstable, fled the scene and crashed during the pursuit near Hell Creek. He was shot after pointing a firearm at a pursuing Mingo County deputy and was then apprehended.
In August 2018, after 2 trials, one in 2015 and the second in 2018, where the suspect was initially considered competent for trial both times, he was ultimately found mentally incompetent and sent back to the mental facility he was sentenced to before, for rehabilitation.
Sheriff Crum had served as sheriff of Mingo County since January. He had previously served as a magistrate for 12 years and also with the Delbarton Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his children and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-B7E120A5- 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.
Sheriff Crum gave the Mingo County Sheriff's Office 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Williamson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Crum.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Eugene Crum 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mingo County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eugene Crum's cause is highlighted.
How Eugene Crum Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to mental facility
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eugene Crum is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Eugene Crum was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Mingo County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
