William Thomas Cross

Columbia Police Dept. — Columbia, SC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 21, 1855

Age 28

The Vigil Panel 2 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

City Marshal William Cross was shot and fatally wounding while attempting to quell a disturbance outside of a saloon on Gervais Street on December 14th, 1855.

He succumbed to his wounds on December 21st, 1855.

The subject who shot him was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed by hanging on April 25th, 1856.

Marshal Cross was a veteran of the Palmetto Regiment of the Mexican-American War.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-60D323EB
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
City Marshal Cross served with the Columbia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Columbia Police Dept.

Location Columbia, SC

Platform Identity cpd.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1855

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1856

Military Service

William Thomas Cross served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

City Marshal William Thomas Cross 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbia Police Dept., 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Columbia Police Dept.

of 10 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious