William S. Wells

Kansas City Police Department — Kansas City, MO

Felonious

End of Watch September 27, 1948

Age 36

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 85 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 119

Incident

Sergeant William Wells was shot and killed in an incident that has become known as the "Paseo Massacre." One of the suspects was shot and killed; the other was apprehended in December of the same year after killing another officer and was sentenced to death. He was executed on December 2, 1949. Sergeant Wells had served with the Kansas City Police Department for eight years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. He is buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri. Four members of the Kansas City Police Department were shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call at 1334 Paseo Road. The suspect was creating problems with his neighbors. The first officers to arrive were Patrolman Neaves and Washington. As they were placing the suspect under arrest, his brother exited the building with a shotgun. He fired at Patrolman Neaves point blank, killing him. The original suspect then took the shotgun from his brother and killed Patrolman Washington as he rushed to aid his partner. The suspects then removed a shotgun from the officer's patrol car. When Patrolman Perrine and Sergeant Wells arrived on the scene they exchanged gunfire with the suspects. Patrolman Perrine was shot and killed during the exchange and Sergeant Wells was seriously wounded. Both suspects were killed along with an innocent bystander. Sergeant Wells died seven days later from his gunshot wounds.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-015AB80C
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.
Sergeant Wells gave the Kansas City Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kansas City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Wells.

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

Agency

Department Kansas City Police Department

Location Kansas City, MO

Platform Identity kcpd.jackson.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 27, 1948

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's shotgun

Offender Shot and killed; apprehended and execute

Sergeant William S. Wells 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Kansas City Police Department, 72 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Kansas City Police Department

of 120 officers

60% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious