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Deputy Sheriff

William Rutherford Hunter

Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office — Canton, TX

Felonious

End of Watch December 28, 1892

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Hunter was shot and killed by the brother of a man he had arrested earlier in the day. On his way home Deputy Hunter passed the shop of the brother, and the man came out and began to argue. Deputy Hunter shot the man as he reached for his waistband, believing the man was reaching for a gun. The man then ran back into his store, retrieved a pistol, and shot Deputy Hunter in the abdomen. The man pleaded self defense and was acquitted of all charges.

Deputy Hunter was survived by his wife and five children.

Survivors

Deputy Hunter was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-8C437ADB
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

134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Hunter served with the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Canton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office

Location Canton, TX

Platform Identity vzcso.vanzandt.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 28, 1892

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Acquitted

Deputy Sheriff William Rutherford Hunter 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Rutherford Hunter's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How William Rutherford Hunter Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Acquitted

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Rutherford Hunter is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Rutherford Hunter was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.