Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Kelley was shot and critically wounded when he attempted to arrest three men who had robbed a grocery store near Vicksburg. Two suspects exited their vehicle and opened fire with shotguns when Officer Kelley pulled them over on Highway 61 in Leland. Officer Kelley was hit in the face with shotgun pellets fired through his windshield. Minutes later the three suspects were apprehended by the Leland police chief. Ten weeks later Officer Kelley died from his wounds. It was later discovered the car they were driving was stolen and they had killed the owner and had thrown his body in a swamp near Belle Chase, Louisiana. On December 10, 1977, the three suspects, 16, 23, and 26, who shot Officer Kelley were convicted of aggravated assault on a police officer and sentenced to 30 years in prison. They received a life sentence for the armed robbery of the grocery store. On February 26, 1978, the same day that Officer Kelley died, the 26-year-old suspect attacked six prison guards, stabbing one with a knife. He was convicted of assault on a correctional officer and received an additional sentence. Officer Kelley had served with the Leland Police Department for four years. He was survived by his wife, stepson, parents, and brother. The bridge located at the interchange of U.S. Highway 61 and U.S. Highway 82 in Leland, Mississippi, was designated the "Donnie Gene Kelley Memorial Bridge."
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, stepson, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-D7E89520- 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.
Police Officer I Kelley gave the Leland Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Leland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer I Kelley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer I Donnie Gene Kelley 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. Donnie Gene Kelley's cause is highlighted.
How Donnie Gene Kelley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donnie Gene Kelley is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donnie Gene Kelley was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Leland Police Department are honored on badge.nw.