Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Hunter was shot and killed by the brother of a man he had arrested earlier in the day. On his way home Deputy Hunter passed the shop of the brother, and the man came out and began to argue. Deputy Hunter shot the man as he reached for his waistband, believing the man was reaching for a gun. The man then ran back into his store, retrieved a pistol, and shot Deputy Hunter in the abdomen. The man pleaded self defense and was acquitted of all charges.
Deputy Hunter was survived by his wife and five children.
Survivors
Deputy Hunter was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-8C437ADB- 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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Hunter served with the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Canton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Rutherford Hunter 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Rutherford Hunter's cause is highlighted.
How William Rutherford Hunter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Rutherford Hunter is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Rutherford Hunter was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
