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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Walter Byrd was shot and killed as he was walking out of a pool room in Macon. The suspect was captured the next day in Griffin.
The officers who captured the suspect were escorting him back to Macon when they were surrounded by an angry mob near Holton. The mob seized and shot the suspect to death.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Byrd served with the Bibb County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Byrd.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Bibb County Sheriff's Office has lost 12 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Walter is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
Walter is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Walter is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1922, 1 officer at Bibb County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1922, 8 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1922, 306 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Walter was 48. Of the 6 killed feloniously at Bibb County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 30.8 and 38.3; the middle age was 34.5.
Walter was 48. Of the 481 killed feloniously in GA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38.
Walter was 48. 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.
Walter was 48. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
July holds 16.7% of these deaths at Bibb County Sheriff's Office; May holds the most, 33.3%. Saturdays: 16.7%.
July holds 8.6% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Saturdays: 20.6%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 12 deaths at Bibb County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 15.3% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Bibb County Sheriff's Office has 12 officers remembered here, Walter among them.
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Benjamin F. Wilder
May 26, 1892
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James Walter Johnson Jun 16, 1908
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Franklin Leland Williams Aug 11, 1918
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Walter C. Byrd Jul 29, 1922
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Harry Green May 15, 1925
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Joseph Tim Whitehead, Jr.
Mar 23, 2006
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Chad McDonald
Dec 21, 2007
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Michael Sean Thomas
May 25, 2008
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Anthony Joseph Freeman
May 5, 2016
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Kenterrous Dewayne Taylor
Mar 18, 2020
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Christopher Wilson Knight
Apr 6, 2021
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William Warren Gay
Oct 14, 2021
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Bibb County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
