Morley G. Ray
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Morley G. Ray

Felonious
End of Watch April 7, 1978
Age 39
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Ray was shot and killed while moonlighting as a security guard. Five men entered the Winn Dixie grocery store to commit a robbery and upon seeing him, approached from behind and shot him in the back of the head. All five suspects were apprehended. The shooter was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1982 his sentence was commuted to life with no possibility of parole for 25 years. He died in prison on September 17, 2020. Of the other four, two were sentenced to life, and the other to 25 years. Deputy Ray had been with the agency for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-E134181B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Morley. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ray gave the Escambia County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pensacola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ray.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Pensacola, Escambia County, FL
Platform Identity ecso.escambia.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 7, 1978
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Morley G. Ray 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Escambia County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.9% of this agency's fallen.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office
10
of 13 officers
76.9% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Morley G. Ray's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Morley G. Ray Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Morley G. Ray is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Morley G. Ray was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909