Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Leon Gooding was shot and killed after he and his partner arrested a man on the John Island railroad tracks who had escaped from the South Carolina state mental hospital a month earlier. They confiscated a rifle from the man but failed to locate a .22 caliber pistol. As the officers drove the man to jail on Doughty Street, he produced the pistol and shot both officers, killing Patrolman Gooding. The 30-year-old suspect was declared insane and was sent to the state penitentiary without a trial. He remained there until 1973, when he was removed to a state hospital because he refused to allow doctors to amputate his leg, which was infected with gangrene. His case was very complicated. He and his attorneys argued for years that he needed to be in a mental hospital, but state officials argued he was too dangerous and prison was the best place for him. He had served with the Charleston County Police Department for five years. He was survived by his wife, two brothers, and two sisters. He is buried at Riverview Memorial Park, North Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-DD56CDB9- 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.
Patrolman Gooding gave the Charleston County Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gooding.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Leon Gooding 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Charleston County Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Leon Gooding's cause is highlighted.
How William Leon Gooding Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Leon Gooding is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Leon Gooding was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Charleston County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
