Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

Thad Paris

Sunflower County Sheriff's Office — Indianola, MS

Felonious

End of Watch August 27, 1896

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Thad Paris was shot and killed while he and another deputy attempted to serve a warrant on a man near Saint's Rest.

They had followed the man and located underneath a tree along near the church. As they approached him the man suddenly opened fire with a shotgun, striking Deputy Paris in the side. The other deputy returned fire with a Winchester rifle, killing the man.

Deputy Paris was survived by his mother and sister.

Survivors

Deputy Paris was survived by his mother and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-C29D5482
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Thad. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Paris served with the Sunflower County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Indianola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Sunflower County Sheriff's Office

Location Indianola, MS

Platform Identity scso.sunflower.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 27, 1896

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Thad Paris 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 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 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Sunflower County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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. Thad Paris'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 Thad Paris Compares

Age at End of Watch

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. Thad Paris is highlighted in Aug.

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. Thad Paris was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518