Roll of Honor
John Manning Awtrey
Incident
Deputy John Awtrey was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect.
Deputy Awtrey went to serve a warrant on a man in Hulls Station, in South Tuscaloosa County. He made contact with the suspect who was carrying firewood. Deputy Awtrey told him he was under arrest, the suspect dropped the wood, ran in the house and came out with a shotgun, and shot Deputy Awtrey. The suspect ran into a swampy area and was later caught by a posse. The sheriff raised $500.00 and offered it as a reward. The trial was moved to Eutaw, Alabama and he was found guilty and hung on January 25th, 1889.
Deputy Awtrey had served with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and five children. He was preceded in death by one child. He was a Confederate Civil War Veteran who served as a sergeant in the 50th Alabama Infantry, Company I.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-A53529F1- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Awtrey gave the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscaloosa community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Manning Awtrey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff John Manning Awtrey 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Manning Awtrey's cause is highlighted.
How John Manning Awtrey Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1889
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Manning Awtrey is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Manning Awtrey was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
