William Henry Phillips
Agency patch
Investigator

William Henry Phillips

Felonious
End of Watch January 6, 1970
Age 60
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Investigator William Phillips was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a smuggling suspect at a home on the 4200 block of South Fourth Avenue in Tucson, Arizona, at approximately 6:00 am. Investigator Phillips was standing outside of the home as two other agents spoke to someone inside of the home. The other agents heard two shots and ran outside, finding Investigator Phillips suffering two gunshot wounds. He was transported to Pima County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect fled to Mexico following the murder and was arrested by Mexican authorities. He was tried and convicted in Mexico but later escaped from prison. He was shot and killed a short time later when he attempted to run a Mexican road block.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-F8097FFC
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

28 years. You could have gone home.
Investigator Phillips gave the United States Department of Justice 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Phillips.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjinsifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 6, 1970
Tour of Duty 28 yrs
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Investigator William Henry Phillips 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 - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Investigations, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Investigations
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Henry Phillips's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How William Henry Phillips Compares

Age at End of Watch
60
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Henry Phillips is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Henry Phillips was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

4 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - Investigations are honored on badge.nw.