Billy Ray Walls, III
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Billy Ray Walls, III

Felonious
End of Watch November 13, 2001
Age 28
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 149 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Billy Ray Walls and Captain Chuck Morgan were shot and killed by an elderly man as they and another deputy were serving a warrant for making a terroristic threat at 9 am.

As the three deputies entered the man's 150-square-foot houseboat, the suspect opened fire with a semi-automatic .30 caliber M-1 carbine rifle. Deputy Walls was killed at the scene, and Captain Chuck Morgan and the third deputy were seriously wounded. Captain Morgan succumbed to his wounds three weeks later. The deputies were able to return fire and kill the shooter. Over 20 rifles and handguns were found in the man's home.

Deputy Walls had served with the Jessamine County Sheriff's Department for one year and had served in law enforcement for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and 6-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-1BC2A6FA
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 Walls gave the Jessamine County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nicholasville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Walls.

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

Agency

Location Nicholasville, KY
Platform Identity jcso.jessamine.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 2001
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; M-1
Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Billy Ray Walls, III 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jessamine County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Jessamine County Sheriff's Department
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% 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. Billy Ray Walls, III'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 Billy Ray Walls, III Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
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. Billy Ray Walls, III is highlighted in Nov.

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. Billy Ray Walls, III was killed by rifle; m-1.

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

Incident Location