Roll of Honor
James Shirley Wood
Incident
Conservation Officer Jim Wood was shot and killed at his home at approximately 10:00 pm by a man whom he had issued a citation to earlier in the day. The man found out where Officer Wood lived and went to his home at Ross Barnett Lake near Mize. When Officer Wood's wife answered the door the man asked to speak with the officer. When Officer Wood came to the front door the man shot him. One of the officers who responded to the murder scene, Corporal James Bounds, of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, suffered a fatal heart attack when he saw the body of Officer Wood and he learned that his friend had been shot and killed. The suspect who murdered Officer Wood was apprehended and sentenced to 20 years. Officer Wood had served with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation for six years as the manager of Lake Ross Barnett.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, two sisters, and one brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-6485A845- 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.
Conservation Officer Wood gave the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Conservation Officer Wood.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Conservation Officer James Shirley Wood 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 Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, 6 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Shirley Wood's cause is highlighted.
How James Shirley Wood Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Shirley Wood is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Shirley Wood was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are honored on badge.nw.
