Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Pugh was shot and killed in Fouke after responding to a fight involving several drunk men near the Fouke Lumber Company commissary at about midnight.
He had placed one man under arrest when another approached him and opened fire, killing him. The man fled toward Hickory and remained at large until committing suicide in Choctaw County, Alabama, about two weeks later.
Deputy Pugh was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and several siblings.
Survivors
Deputy Pugh was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and several siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-5DE7D0A5- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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 Pugh served with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bay Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pugh.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Garfield Pugh 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 MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jasper County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Garfield Pugh's cause is highlighted.
How James Garfield Pugh Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Garfield Pugh is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Garfield Pugh was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Jasper County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
