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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Charles Adams succumbed to wounds he suffered nine days earlier after being shot while attempting to serve an arrest warrant.
He and a DeWitt County deputy went to a grocery store at 1410 South Main Street, in Normal, at 8:30 am to arrest a subject on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and for the robbery of a restaurant in Clinton in DeWitt County. The subject had recently eloped to Indiana with the grocery store owner's 16-year-old daughter to marry her. The man attempted to see his wife at the store the night before, causing her father to seek the warrant.
After the other deputy handcuffed the suspect, retrieving one weapon, Deputy Adams took custody of him and telephoned the sheriff. The suspect produced a second pistol from his sleeve and shot Deputy Adams once in the back and three times in his leg. As the store owner attempted to gain control over the suspect's weapon, he was shot multiple times in the hand before the other deputy was able to shoot the suspect in the head and chest.
Deputy Adams was transported to St. Joseph Hospital in Bloomington where he succumbed to his wounds nine days later after developing septic pneumonia.
The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He lost his bid for parole for the 8th time in 1953. He was due to be released in 1964.
Deputy Adams had served with the McLean County Sheriff's Department for 1½ years and had previously served as an Empire Township deputy and the LeRoy town marshal.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three daughters, parents, two sisters and five brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Adams gave the McLean County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Adams.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
McLean County Sheriff's Office has lost 5 officers; 3 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 842 officers killed feloniously in IL, 63.9% of the 1,318 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 19 officers in IL were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 1924, with 22.
In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1933, 186 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 42. Of the 762 killed feloniously in IL whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 45; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 42. 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. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 42. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 9.5% of these deaths in IL; July holds the most, 10.3%. Fridays: 14.6%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 60% of all 5 deaths at McLean County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 63.9% of all 1,318 deaths in IL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 0.4% 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 handgun; pistol, in 0.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; pistol, in 0.5% of these deaths.
His people
McLean County Sheriff's Office has 5 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from McLean County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
