Roll of Honor
Wesley C. Sellars
Incident
Location: Florida Weapon: Shotgun Offender: Sentenced to life
Special Agent Wesley Sellars was shot to death from ambush by two men at the railroad depot in High Springs, Florida. Agent Sellars was investigating the looting of freight cars by a gang of thugs, who were also terrorizing the community. Two of the gang members were arrested and charged with his murder in 1908.
Both suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One was pardoned by Governor Park Trammell on August 29, 1915. The other suspect, an ex-Savannah, Georgia, police officer, fired the shotgun blast at close range that nearly severed Agent Sellars head from his body. He had a history of escape attempts and escaped with the help of prison guard in 1911. The guard was convicted of aiding an inmate in an escape and sentenced to a term in prison. The suspect was apprehended several months later in Cuba and returned to prison. Both suspects were linked to eight unsolved murders in the High Springs Atlantic Coast Line rail yard before and after Agent Sellars murder. They were never charged because of insufficient evidence. The murders and the terrorizing of citizens stopped after the two were apprehended. The pardoned suspect returned to his old haunts.
Special Agent Sellars served several years as a policeman with the Tampa Police Department.
Rest in peace always knowing that no passage of time will ever erase your memory, service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) August 8th, 2020
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-FC6CE403- 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.
Special Agent Sellars served with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Sellars.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Wesley C. Sellars 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 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wesley C. Sellars's cause is highlighted.
How Wesley C. Sellars Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wesley C. Sellars is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wesley C. Sellars was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
