M. W. Vinson, Jr.

Hattiesburg Police Department — Hattiesburg, MS

Felonious

End of Watch March 9, 1952

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 88 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman M.W. Vinson and Patrolman Jessie Everett were shot and killed as they investigated a burglary at the Ace Weathers Motor Company. As police entered the front door they observed two men exit a side door and leave in a vehicle. Both officers were shot and killed in a gunfight with one of the suspects when they stopped the vehicle at the intersection of West 4th Street and North Street. The gunman was captured a short time later. The subject who murdered the officers was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair on February 5th, 1954. The other subject was sentenced to life in prison.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-51BA4804
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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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Vinson served with the Hattiesburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hattiesburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Vinson.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Hattiesburg Police Department

Location Hattiesburg, MS

Platform Identity hpd.forrest.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 1952

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1954

Patrolman M. W. Vinson, Jr. 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%.

At Hattiesburg Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Hattiesburg Police Department

of 6 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious