Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Groves Hammett and Constable Frank Kinstley were shot and killed by two brothers who had gone on a shooting rampage in the tiny town of Harriston, Mississippi.
The two brothers had become drunk and taken narcotics while gambling with other men. After losing money, the two brothers opened fire on the other gamblers, killing several men and a woman. The brothers then went to the local railroad station and opened fire on railroad employees, killing a conductor.
After shooting several other people, they went to Constable Kinstley's home and woke him up by calling him to the door. When he opened the door, they immediately shot him, killing him and wounding his son.
Other citizens had called Sheriff Hammett in Fayette, who immediately responded with his father, who was a sheriff's deputy, and the court clerk. When they arrived in Harriston, they were told the two brothers had gone into a nearby home. As they approached the house, they were ambushed by one of the brothers who was hiding underneath a nearby building. Sheriff Hammett was killed, and the court clerk was wounded. The two brothers then holed up in the house. A responding posse fired an estimated 3,000 shots into the home.
One of the brothers was killed. The second was captured and then lynched by the posse.
The two brothers had killed nine people: seven citizens, Constable Frank Kinstley, and Sheriff Groves Hammett. Fifteen people were seriously wounded.
Sheriff Hammett had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for at least four years. He was survived by his parents and siblings. His father was appointed sheriff of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office after his death until the next election.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- 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 Hammett gave the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Hammett.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Groves Benton Hammett 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Groves Benton Hammett's cause is highlighted.
How Groves Benton Hammett Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Groves Benton Hammett is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Groves Benton Hammett was killed by shotgun.