Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Gary Heath was shot and killed at 4:00 a.m. when he walked into a robbery in progress at the Amoco Food Store at Alabama State Highway 10 and Interstate 65. The subject shot Officer Heath and the store attendant before fleeing with Officer Heath's gun. Their bodies were discovered around 4:20 a.m. The suspect then went on a two-state robbery and killing spree. He shot and killed Deputy Len J. Rowell, of the Pearl River County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi, and Lieutenant Coy Smith of the Alabama Public Service Commission on June 28, 1994. The suspect, who had recently been released on bond in New York for illegally possessing a gun, possession of a stolen car, and stolen credit cards, committed suicide with Officer Heath's gun when he was surrounded by other officers, after killing Lieutenant Smith. Officer Heath had served with the Greenville Police Department for 10 months.
Survivors
Survivors include his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-98DFCB26- 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.
Officer Heath served with the Greenville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Heath.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Gary Wayne Heath 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 Greenville Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary Wayne Heath's cause is highlighted.
How Gary Wayne Heath Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Wayne Heath is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary Wayne Heath was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Greenville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
