IN REMEMBRANCE 

LAFAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY

Sheriff William B. Mathis
Lafayette County Sheriff's Department

End of Watch: Monday, February 25, 1901

Biographical Info
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 13 years

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Monday, February 25, 1901
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Sheriff Mathis was shot and killed by a murder suspect that he and his posse were in pursuit of.

A few hours earlier, the suspect had shot and mortally wounded a naval stores operator in his commissary on the Suwannee River. When Sheriff Mathis came upon the suspect, a demand to surrender was met with gunfire. Sheriff Mathis fell mortally wounded but was able to return fire and killed the suspect.