William Gassaway

Colbert County Sheriff's Office — Tuscumbia, AL

Felonious

End of Watch April 7, 1902

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Gassaway, the sheriff, and four other deputies were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect. Sheriff Charles Gassaway and five Colbert County deputies were shot and killed when the sheriff attempted to arrest a suspect for obtaining goods under false pretenses. The suspect informed the sheriff that he would be ready to go in a moment but arrived at the door with a Winchester rifle. The suspect immediately shot Sheriff Gassaway, who was in the doorway, and the sheriff's brother, Deputy William Gassaway, who was standing a distance away. The suspect then barricaded himself in the house as other deputies arrived at the scene. Firing from inside the house, the suspect shot and mortally wounded Deputy Bob Wallace, Deputy Pat Prout, Deputy James Payne, and Deputy Jesse Davis. The suspect was eventually shot and killed after members of the the Alabama state militia, known as the Wheeler Rifles, shot over 1,000 rounds at the suspect. The suspect's body was then thrown into his burning house, that had been set on fire in an attempt to smoke him out.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-4622B07D
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Gassaway served with the Colbert County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tuscumbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gassaway.

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

Agency

Department Colbert County Sheriff's Office

Location Tuscumbia, AL

Platform Identity ccso.colbert.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 7, 1902

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff William Gassaway 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Colbert County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Colbert County Sheriff's Office

of 10 officers

100% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious