Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff William McBride was shot and killed in Lexington by a man he attempted to arrest for violating the state prohibition law.
He had received information about liquor being brought into the city from Paducah, Kentucky. He and the city marshal met a train coming from Paducah and followed the suspected smuggler from the station to a home on the west side of town. Once the man went inside the city marshal went to front door and Sheriff McBride went to the back door. The suspect opened the back door and shot Sheriff McBride, killing him.
Two days later an angry mob captured the suspect and hanged him in front of the courthouse.
Sheriff McBride had been elected sheriff one year earlier to finish the unexpired term of the previous sheriff.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-6C56CAE8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
You barely got started.
Sheriff McBride gave the Henderson County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Lexington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff McBride.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William H. McBride is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. McBride's cause is highlighted.
How William H. McBride Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. McBride is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. McBride was killed by gun; unknown type.