Incident
Constable Samiel Hungerford was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public and brandishing a firearm. The suspect had driven to Cooter and pulled out a gun after confronting a man he held a grudge against. Constable Hungerford happened to be driving by and was called over by the victim. Constable Hungeford knew the suspect and attempted to talk him into giving him the gun. Instead, the man suddenly shot Constable Hungerford three times, killing him.
The man was arrested by a county deputy a short time later. He was subsequently convicted of Constable Hungerford's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled on January 5, 1935.
Constable Hungerford had served as the elected constable of Cooter for at least two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-MO-C66FD696- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Hungerford gave the Cooter Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cooter community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Hungerford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Samiel J. Hungerford is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.6 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samiel J. Hungerford's cause is highlighted.
How Samiel J. Hungerford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samiel J. Hungerford is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samiel J. Hungerford was killed by handgun.