Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Box was shot and killed in Hazlehurst while he and another deputy attempted to arrest a man who had failed to report to the county farm to serve a 90-day sentence on a liquor violation.
He had arrested the man several times before without trouble. When they arrived at the man's home to take him into custody the man opened fire, killing Deputy Box. The man then fled to Chicago, Illinois, where he was arrested by the FBI in February 1944. The following month he was freed by a judge who refused to extradite him to Mississippi for fear that he would be lynched. The subject was still in Chicago in 1955 and it is not known if he was ever tried for Deputy Box's murder.
Deputy Box was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Deputy Box was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-A034BB99- 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 Box gave the Copiah County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gallman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Box.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John M. Box 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 Copiah County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. Box's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Box Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Box is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John M. Box was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Copiah County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
