Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Montgomery Haston was shot and killed on Spencer's main street, one block from the jail, by the father of a political opponent.
He was speaking to several people when the man parked on the street, retrieved a shotgun from his car, and then opened fire without warning. Sheriff Haston's brother and brother-in-law were able to subdue the man, who was then arrested and charged with murder. The man, 69, was the father of Sheriff Haston's opponent in the upcoming election. There was already ill feelings between the two over timber rights on a piece of land both claimed. The man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.
Sheriff Haston was survived by his wife, 1-year-old daughter, mother, two brothers, and three sisters.
Survivors
Sheriff Haston was survived by his wife, 1-year-old daughter, mother, two brothers, and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-11E62EE6- 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.
Sheriff Haston served with the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Spencer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Haston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Montgomery G. Haston 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 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. Montgomery G. Haston's cause is highlighted.
How Montgomery G. Haston Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Montgomery G. Haston is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Montgomery G. Haston was killed by shotgun.