Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Wright and Chief Deputy Calvin Lee, of the Obion County Sheriff's Office, were shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call about 1.5 miles west of Elkridge. Deputy Wright was the first deputy on the scene and was ambushed as he and a companion approached the house. The suspect had been hiding in the back seat of his car and opened fire on Deputy Wright, killing him and mortally wounding his companion. The man then shot and killed Chief Deputy Lee when he arrived on the scene. The 35-year-old suspect was never charged with the deputies' murders but was convicted of Deputy Wright's companion's murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. In 1960 Governor Buford Ellington commuted his sentence to life, making him eligible for parole. He was paroled in 1963 and died in 1974.
Survivors
Deputy Wright was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-BCA3A7FD- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Wright served with the Dyer County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Dyersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John R. Wright 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%.
At Dyer County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. Wright's cause is highlighted.
How John R. Wright Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1963
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Wright is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John R. Wright was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Dyer County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
