Roll of Honor
William McKinley King
Incident
Constable William King was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man in Green Tree Hollow, near Malvern. When Constable King located the subject, the man asked that Constable King read the warrant.
As Constable King folded the warrant after reading it, the subject produced a semi-automatic handgun shot him once, knocking him down a flight of stairs. The man then walked down the stairs and shot Constable King two more times, killing him.
The suspect fled the scene and was pursued by a large posse. Two members of the Pennsylvania State Police who were also involved in the search located him at a home in North Berwyn. After a short foot pursuit the officers were able to take him into custody.
He admitted to Constable King's murder and was sentenced to death. He was later executed by electrocution.
Constable King was survived by his father, who also served as a constable.
Survivors
Constable King was survived by his father, who also served as a constable.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-245EA777- 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 King served with the Pennsylvania State Constable.
Thank you for your service to the West Chester community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William McKinley King 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William McKinley King's cause is highlighted.
How William McKinley King Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William McKinley King is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.