Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Billy Blackwell was shot and killed from ambush by a man as he was responding to a disturbance on Fourth Avenue in Lewisburg at 6:30 am. The 60-year-old suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 60 years on June 19, 1975. In November of 1977, he was retried and sentenced to 75 years for second-degree murder. His request for a third trial was denied in 1986. He died in prison on January 30, 1989. Patrolman Blackwell was a United States Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Lewisburg Police Department for 10 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, two sisters, and two brothers, who also served in law enforcement.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-83E280A0- 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.
Patrolman Blackwell served with the Lewisburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lewisburg community, and 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
Billy W. Blackwell served in the Army (1967â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman Billy W. Blackwell 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. Billy W. Blackwell's cause is highlighted.
How Billy W. Blackwell Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Billy W. Blackwell is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Billy W. Blackwell was killed by gun; unknown type.