William Franklin Berry
Agency patch
Investigator

William Franklin Berry

Felonious
End of Watch March 18, 1938
Age 32
The Vigil Panel 74 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator William Berry was shot and killed while making an arrest in the Suck Creek Mountain range near Chattanooga, Tennessee. During the raid on a local resident who was operating a still at his home the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, killing Agent Berry. The suspect escaped but was tracked down by bloodhounds and arrested approximately 12 hours later. The suspect, 31, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 60 years to life in Atlanta Federal Prison.

Survivors

Agent Berry was survived by his wife, four children, mother, three brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-B63BEEC3
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.
Investigator Berry served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Berry.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtirsatufed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 18, 1938
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Investigator William Franklin Berry 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit, 12 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Alcohol Tax Unit
12
of 30 officers
40% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. William Franklin Berry's cause is highlighted.

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

How William Franklin Berry Compares

Age at Death
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Franklin Berry is highlighted in Mar.

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. William Franklin Berry was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location