Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Marshal William Richards was shot and mortally wounded by a man whom he attempted to arrest for being drunk and disruptive.
The suspect resisted arrest, managed to escape, and left town. Two days later the suspect returned and opened fire on the marshal from ambush, striking him in both lungs, as he sat on a box in front of a store. An innocent bystander was also shot and mortally wounded. Marshal Richards died ten days later.
The suspect barricaded himself in his family's plantation home near Cheraw. When the Chesterfield County Sheriff failed to take action, Governor Hugh Thompson ordered the state constable to arrest the suspect. On May 14, 1884, the suspect was shot and killed when he opened fire on a posse that surrounded his home.
Marshal Richards was survived by his wife and three children. He was a Civil War veteran, having served as a lieutenant with the 13th Massachusetts Infantry.
Survivors
Marshal Richards was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-ED50981F- 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.
Town Marshal Richards served with the Cheraw Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cheraw 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William H. H. Richards served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Town Marshal William H. H. Richards 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 Cheraw Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. H. Richards's cause is highlighted.
How William H. H. Richards Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. H. Richards is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. H. Richards was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Cheraw Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
