Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Shields was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a houseboat on the Little River in Lepanto.
He had been told the wanted man was on the houseboat, so he requested that the Lepanto city marshal accompany him. Unbeknownst to the officers, the houseboat's owner had murdered another man in the houseboat several hours earlier and the body was still concealed inside. As Deputy Shields demanded entry to search for the wanted man the subject opened fire with a double-barreled shotgun, killing him.
The city marshal went for assistance and a posse of citizens went to the scene. After the man refused to surrender the houseboat was set on fire. The flames forced the man out and he was arrested.
Deputy Shields was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Shields was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-DE31CF97- 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 Shields served with the Poinsett County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Shields.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William R. Shields 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Poinsett County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William R. Shields's cause is highlighted.
How William R. Shields Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William R. Shields is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William R. Shields was killed by shotgun; 8 gauge.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Poinsett County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
