Prev Next
Deputy Sheriff

Samuel Lewis Williams

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office — Birmingham, AL
Felonious
United States flag Alabama flag
End of Watch October 11, 1927
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Samuel Williams was shot and fatally wounded when he attempted to arrest a man at his home near downtown Birmingham for assaulting a city health inspector.

The suspect, who barricaded himself in his home, opened fire on officers when they attempted to dislodge him with teargas and fire bombs. During an hour long gun battle eight officers and three onlookers were shot and wounded, but none seriously. The suspect was killed by an officer who shot him from an adjoining rooftop.

Deputy Williams, shot in the abdomen, died an hour later in a Birmingham hospital.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmhry9kw51kdhn0ds92g
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Samuel. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Williams served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Williams.

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

Agency

Department Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Type Sheriff's Office
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 11, 1927
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 220 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 39. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office has 24 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years

Deputy Sheriff Samuel Lewis Williams

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch October 11, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-E

↑