Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable W. C. Fitzgerald was shot and killed while in pursuit of a group of drunk and disorderly people.
The group had entered the town of Trenton where they created a disturbance, recklessly firing their weapons. Constable Fitzgerald dispersed the group, but they began shooting again as soon as they were out of sight.
Constable Fitzgerald once again pursued the group but this time was ambushed and killed in a nearby field.
Two suspects were immediately brought into custody by the sheriff. Two other suspects escaped and were captured one week later in Vicksburg, Mississippi. One suspect was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Before the sentence began, an angry mob of citizens removed all four suspects from jail and lynched them in the courthouse square.
Constable Fitzgerald was survived by his wife and a child.
Survivors
Constable Fitzgerald was survived by his wife and a child.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-LA-D150DA27- Stewardship
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Fitzgerald served with the Ouachita Parish Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Monroe community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable W. C. Fitzgerald 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. W. C. Fitzgerald's cause is highlighted.
How W. C. Fitzgerald Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by mob
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. W. C. Fitzgerald is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. W. C. Fitzgerald was killed by gun; unknown type.