Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Giacomo was shot and killed by a subject whom he had just arrested for drunk driving.
Deputy Giacomo had brought the suspect out of the holding cell at the sheriff's department and was preparing a breathalyzer test when he paused to answer the phone. When he turned back around, the man displayed a small pistol that he had concealed in his boot. A struggle ensued, and the man shot Deputy Giacomo in the head while the deputy was pleading not to be shot. The entire incident was videotaped on the department's monitoring system.
Another deputy, Deputy Thomas Baker, entered the building several minutes after the shooting and called for assistance. Deputy Sheriff Baker would be shot and killed while responding to a domestic call on June 3rd, 2022.
Deputy Giacomo was transported to a local hospital, where he died later in the day.
The subject fled the scene and was the focus of a large manhunt by over 16 agencies. He was captured four days later and committed suicide in his jail cell, exactly two months after he murdered Deputy Giacomo.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-0F5704A4- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Giacomo gave the Nicholas County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Summersville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Giacomo.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William G. Giacomo 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Nicholas County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William G. Giacomo's cause is highlighted.
How William G. Giacomo Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William G. Giacomo is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Nicholas County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
