Roll of Honor
William Pitts
Incident
Deputy Marshal William Pitts was shot and killed while investigating reports that three men were smuggling liquor into the Indian Territory from Texas. Deputy Marshal Pitts set up surveillance at Lake West, about 35 miles north of Paris. When he saw a wagon being driven by three men traveling north, he stepped from the brush and stopped them. The three men identified themselves as Isam Frazier, Lige Woods, and Jim Allen. When Deputy Marshal Pitts said he suspected them of liquor smuggling, and started to search the wagon, a confrontation ensued. One of the men ripped Deputy Marshal Pitts' pistol from its holster and shot him in the stomach. He died within minutes. Allen and Wood were acquitted but Frazier was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to a long prison term. Deputy Marshal Pitts served in the Eastern District of Texas, which included the southern part of the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma)
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Deputy U.S. Marshal Pitts served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal William Pitts 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Pitts's cause is highlighted.
How William Pitts Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of manslaughter
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Pitts is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Pitts was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
