Roll of Honor
William Ashby Howard
Incident
Location: South Carolina Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: At large
Patrolman William Howard was shot and killed while patrolling the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's yards in Sumter, South Carolina.
Patrolman Howard noticed a trespasser at around dusk and attempted to arrest him. The man began to run from Patrolman Howard and started firing over his shoulder. One of the rounds struck the patrolman in the chest, killing him. He then fired seven more rounds in Patrolman Howard's body, stabbed him more times than the coroner could count, and then beat his body with a blunt object.
There was a witness to the incident who knew the 30-year-old suspect. He pawned Patrolman Howard's pistol for five dollars and said he was in trouble and leaving town. A $100 reward was posted for his capture but it is not known if he was ever even seen again.
Patrolman Howard had served with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police for two years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-86BCB360- 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.
Patrolman Howard gave the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Howard.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Ashby Howard 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department, 6 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Ashby Howard's cause is highlighted.
How William Ashby Howard Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Ashby Howard is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Ashby Howard was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
