Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff George Williams was shot and killed as he and other deputies and federal officers attempted to arrest a man wanted for liquor violations.
They had located the man by following his girlfriend, who had just been released from jail. When the two met, Deputy Williams immediately placed the man under arrest and placed him in handcuffs. Moments later, the man's father appeared and fired two blasts from a shotgun. The first blast wounded another deputy and struck his own son in the neck, killing him. The second blast struck Deputy Williams in the abdomen, killing him as well.
The 70-year-old father was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. On April 2, 1928, he was convicted of Deputy Williams' murder and sentenced to life.
Deputy Williams was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
Survivors
Deputy Williams was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-14DCC80A- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Williams served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff George S. Williams 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 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 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Knox County Sheriff's Dept., 7 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George S. Williams's cause is highlighted.
How George S. Williams Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George S. Williams is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George S. Williams was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Knox County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
