Roll of Honor

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Constable

William S. Burns

Smith County Constable's Office — Raleigh, MS

Felonious

End of Watch March 25, 1937

Age 55

The Vigil Panel 73 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable William Burns was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man who was threatening to shoot several other men along the railroad tracks near Barnett.

One of the brandishing victims notified Constable Burns of the incident and accompanied him to the scene. As Constable Burns approached the man he said he wanted to talk to him. The man responded and then shot him in the chest with a shotgun.

The subject, 24, fled after shooting Constable Burns. What ever happened to him is unknown.

Constable Burns was the constable of the Pachuta area.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service March 18th, 2022

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-F270E2CC
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.
Constable Burns served with the Smith County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Raleigh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Burns.

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

Agency

Department Smith County Constable's Office

Location Raleigh, MS

Platform Identity scco.smith.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 25, 1937

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Constable William S. Burns 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%.

Smith County Constable'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. William S. Burns'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 William S. Burns Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William S. Burns is highlighted in Mar.

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. William S. Burns was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518