William Thomas Cross

Columbia Police Department — Columbia, SC

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 21, 1855

Age 28

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 9

Incident

City Marshal William Cross was shot and fatally wounding while attempting to quell a disturbance outside of a saloon on Gervais Street on December 14th, 1855.

He succumbed to his wounds on December 21st, 1855.

The subject who shot him was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on April 25th, 1856.

Marshal Cross was a veteran of the Palmetto Regiment of the Mexican-American War.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-60D323EB
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. William is one person.

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

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.
City Marshal Cross served with the Columbia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Columbia Police Department

Type Other

Location Columbia, SC

Platform Identity cpd.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1855

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Military Service

William Thomas Cross served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

City Marshal William Thomas Cross 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Columbia Police Department, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Police Department

of 10 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 440 officers

61.6% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious