Incident
Sergeant William Black was shot and killed near Ringgold by an escaped convict from Missouri after he and his partner stopped the man's vehicle for a traffic violation. The suspect shot Sergeant Black as he approached the driver's door. The man fled on foot but was arrested after a large manhunt in Georgia and Tennessee. He was sentenced to death and executed for Sergeant Black's murder on March 12, 1943. Sergeant Black was survived by his wife. He was also a U.S. Army Reserve officer.
Survivors
Sergeant Black was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-A41FABFE- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Black gave the Georgia State Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Frederick Black Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant William Frederick Black Jr. 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 904 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this state's fallen. That is 60.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Georgia State Patrol, 4 of 29 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 13.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Frederick Black Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William Frederick Black Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Frederick Black Jr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Frederick Black Jr. was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
William Frederick Black Jr. served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit William Frederick Black Jr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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