Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman John McManus was shot and killed in downtown Heath Springs while attempting to detain a group of four bootleggers who were causing a disturbance.
The bootleggers were on two wagons riding through town while cursing loudly while traveling to Kershaw. Policeman McManus had stopped them and informed them they had violated a town ordinance and owed a $5 fine. One of the subjects jumped from the wagon and shot Policeman McManus in the neck, killing him.
A citizen who was assisting Policeman McManus was able to subdue one of the men. The other three were eventually apprehended. Two of them were charged in connection with Policeman McManus' murder, but the first trial ended in a mistrial. It is not known if they were ever retried.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-926A6523- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman McManus served with the Heath Springs Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Heath Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman John M. McManus 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. McManus's cause is highlighted.
How John M. McManus Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. McManus is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.