Luell Wheeler Barrow

Alabama Department of Corrections — Montgomery, AL

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch January 18, 1974

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Officer Luell Barrow was stabbed to death during a prisoner uprising at the state prison in Atmore. Officer Barrow and another guard were taken hostage by four inmates wielding homemade knives. They demanded to speak to the commissioner and while talking to him, stabbed both officers, killing Officer Barrow and injuring the other officer. They were rushed at that point and one of the hostage-takers was killed by gunfire. One inmate, serving five life sentences for 1971 convictions of four counts of burglary and one count of rape, was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Barrow. The inmate had been sentenced under a Civil War-era law which supported the death penalty for lifers convicted of murder. In 1989 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that law was unconstitutional and overturned the conviction. He was paroled on May 21, 1991. Officer Barrow had previously served with the United States Navy in World War II.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-E4029519
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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.
Correctional Officer Barrow served with the Alabama Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Alabama, 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 Alabama Department of Corrections

Location Montgomery, AL

Platform Identity alabcorr.montgomery.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 18, 1974

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

Offender Paroled in 1991.

Military Service

Luell Wheeler Barrow served in the Navy (1943â1945) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Correctional Officer Luell Wheeler Barrow 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 Alabama Department of Corrections, 7 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

Alabama Department of Corrections

of 11 officers

63.6% Felonious

AL — Statewide

405

of 643 officers

63% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious