William Louis Skinner

Jackson Police Department — Jackson, MS

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch August 19, 1971

Age 36

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Lieutenant William Skinner was shot and killed during a standoff with a group of militants who were barricaded in a house at 1148 Lewis Street around 6:30 a.m. Lieutenant Skinner was standing beneath a tree when he was struck in the head by a single round that had been fired from underneath the house. Another Jackson Police Department officer and a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent were also wounded during the shootout. Lieutenant Skinner passed away at the Baptist Hospital the next day. Eleven suspects were arrested and charged with Lieutenant Skinner's murder. Only a few of the suspects were convicted and sentenced to very short sentences. Lieutenant Skinner was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Jackson Police Department for 11 years. He was survived by three sons, all of whom became law enforcement officers. The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers and the wounding of many more law enforcement officers. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Liberation Army's violent activism.

Survivors

He was survived by three sons, all of whom became law enforcement officers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-DCCE695F
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.

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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.
Lieutenant Skinner gave the Jackson Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Jackson Police Department

Location Jackson, MS

Platform Identity jpd.hinds.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1971

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled

Military Service

William Louis Skinner served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Lieutenant William Louis Skinner 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jackson Police Department, 14 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.7% of this agency's fallen.

Jackson Police Department

of 19 officers

73.7% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious