Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Samuel Williams was shot and fatally wounded when he attempted to arrest a man at his home near downtown Birmingham for assaulting a city health inspector.
The suspect, who barricaded himself in his home, opened fire on officers when they attempted to dislodge him with teargas and fire bombs. During an hour long gun battle eight officers and three onlookers were shot and wounded, but none seriously. The suspect was killed by an officer who shot him from an adjoining rooftop.
Deputy Williams, shot in the abdomen, died an hour later in a Birmingham hospital.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-1D33500C- Stewardship
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- 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 Williams served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Williams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Samuel Lewis Williams 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 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 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Lewis Williams's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Lewis Williams Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Lewis Williams is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Lewis Williams was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
23 officers from Jefferson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
