Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Frank Kinstley and Sheriff Groves Hammett were shot and killed by two brothers who had gone on a shooting rampage in the tiny town of Harriston, Mississippi.
The two brothers had become drunk and taken narcotics while gambling with other men. After losing money, the two brothers opened fire on the other gamblers, killing several men and a woman. The brothers then went to the local railroad station and opened fire on railroad employees, killing a conductor.
After shooting several other people, they went to Constable Kinstley's home and woke him up by calling him to the door. When he opened the door, they immediately shot him, killing him and wounding his son.
Other citizens had called Sheriff Hammett in Fayette, who immediately responded with his father, who was a sheriff's deputy, and the court clerk. When they arrived in Harriston, they were told the two brothers had gone into a nearby home. As they approached the house, they were ambushed by one of the brothers who was hiding underneath a nearby building. Sheriff Hammett was killed, and the court clerk was wounded. The two brothers then holed up in the house. A responding posse fired an estimated 3,000 shots into the home.
One of the brothers was killed. The second was captured and then lynched by the posse.
The two brothers had killed nine people: seven citizens, Constable Frank Kinstley, and Sheriff Groves Hammett. Fifteen people were seriously wounded.
Constable Kinstley had served with the Jefferson County Constable's Office for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-62FB4221- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Kinstley gave the Jefferson County Constable's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fayette community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Kinstley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Benjamin Frank Kinstley is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 69.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin Frank Kinstley's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin Frank Kinstley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin Frank Kinstley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin Frank Kinstley was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Jefferson County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.