Roll of Honor
Dave H. Jennings, Jr.
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dave Jennings was shot and killed after responding to a shooting call on Deep Slough Road. When he arrived at the scene he encountered man sitting in a car that had been backed into a ditch. As Deputy Jennings approached the subject another man shouted to the deputy that the subject had just shot a woman. At the same time the man in the car attacked Deputy Jennings. During the ensuing struggle the man was able to gain control of Deputy Jennings' service weapon and shot him. Deputy Jennings returned fire with a backup weapon, wounding the suspect. The suspect fled the scene in Deputy Jennings' patrol car. His car was found a short distance away, wrecked with the suspect who had passed out. He was admitted to a hospital and later charged with capital murder, and murder of the woman, 44. On June 10, 1977, the suspect, 42, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life. In regard to the woman killed with a sawed-off .12 guage shotgun, on May 24, 1978, he was convicted of manslaughter. Deputy Jennings had served in law enforcement for 41 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-F8F15689- 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
41 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Jennings gave the Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Office 41 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Jennings.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Dave H. Jennings, Jr. 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%.
At Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dave H. Jennings, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Dave H. Jennings, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of capital murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dave H. Jennings, Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dave H. Jennings, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
