Wiley Litteral
Agency patch
Special Deputy Sheriff

Wiley Litteral

Felonious
End of Watch December 5, 1908
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 23 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Deputy Wiley Litteral was shot and killed as he accompanied a raiding party of Lawrence County deputies and United States marshals that were attempting to serve a warrant at a home on Coon Creek.

Deputy Litteral and several of the deputy marshals approached the home from the West Virginia side of the creek while the county deputies approached from the Kentucky side. As the deputy marshal entered the front of the home Deputy Litteral went to the back. Shots were fired from inside and Deputy Litteral was struck multiple times.

The other officers returned fire and killed one of the family members inside. The others were taken into custody and charged with several federal liquor law violations.

Deputy Litteral was survived by his son.

Survivors

Deputy Litteral was survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-D0BBAD55
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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Litteral served with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Louisa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Litteral.

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

Agency

Location Louisa, KY
Platform Identity lcso.lawrence.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 5, 1908
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Special Deputy Sheriff Wiley Litteral 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 Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lawrence County Sheriff's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% 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. Wiley Litteral'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 Wiley Litteral Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wiley Litteral is highlighted in Dec.

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. Wiley Litteral 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Lawrence County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.