William Erastus Whitehurst
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

William Erastus Whitehurst

Felonious
End of Watch July 4, 1893
Age 23
The Vigil Panel 12 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff William Whitehurst was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was causing a public disturbance.

As he struggled with the original suspect, another man opened fire on him, killing him. The suspect was acquitted.

He was survived by his parents and six siblings.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and six siblings.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Whitehurst served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Tampa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL
Platform Identity hcso.hillsborough.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1893
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1893, 76 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 23. 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

July holds 9.3% 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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has 15 officers remembered here, William among them.

VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff William Erastus Whitehurst

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch July 4, 1893

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-W

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