Eugene Crum
Sheriff

Eugene Crum

Felonious
End of Watch April 3, 2013
Age 59
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 162 ›
Gender Male

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
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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.
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

Type Other
Location Williamson, Mingo County, WV
Platform Identity mcso.mingo.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 3, 2013
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 59
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sheriff Eugene Crum 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 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 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mingo County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Mingo County Sheriff's Department
4
of 5 officers
80% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% 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. Eugene Crum's cause is highlighted.

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

How Eugene Crum Compares

Age at Death
59
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eugene Crum is highlighted in Apr.

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. Eugene Crum was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location