pop up description layer
ODO!
Home Page View Tribute Wall Search & Read Fallen Hero Stories Member Section Contact Us Make A Donation Our Policies Valued Links
Jul. 13, 2025 2:33 AM
Visitors: 1
Home
Year - 2025
Hero Search
View Wall
Song Tribute
9/11 Fallen
COVID-19
Contact Us
Donate
Members
Register
Policy
Mail List
Patches
Links
Notables
Enter Hero's Last Name
American Police Hall of Fame

Shipp/1900
O'Meara/1872
Weir/1950
Wiget/1952
Steele/1845
Fallen Heroes
Fallen Project
Click any option . . .
Detailed Search
States List
Stats
State Map Search
Most Recent
Notables
Add a Fallen Hero
9/11
COVID-19
New Hero Search Wilford Winn Thomasson
- Feb. 14, 1937 -
(15098)

Pass your cursor over pic to see larger version! Click pic for full version!

DOJ - ATF Patch
Resided: TX, USA
Born: Unk  
Fallen: Feb. 14, 1937
Race/Sex: Caucasian Male / 36 yrs. of age
Agency
Dept: U.S. DOJ - ATF
99 New York Avenue, NE  
Washington DC, DC   20226   USA
(202)648-7777
Dept. Type: Federal/Police
Hero's Rank: Investigator
Sworn Date: Unk
FBI Class: Homicide - Gun
Weapon Class: Firearm
Agency URL: Click Here
On The Job: 4 years
Bio: Not Available
Fatal Incident Summary
Offender: No Info
Location: TX   USA   Sun. Feb. 14, 1937
Summary: Investigator Wilford Thomasson was shot and killed along the Colorado River near Austin, Texas, after seizing a still and arresting two suspects.

State and federal liquor control agents had a 60-gallon whiskey still under surveillance. Around 6:15 p.m. Investigator Thomasson and other agents rowed a boat across the Colorado River near Mount Bonnell outside the Austin city limits and arrested two men. One of the agents was watching the prisoners while Investigator Thomasson and a state liquor inspector started searching the area in different directions.

Investigator Thomasson approached two men he located during the search. Investigator Thomasson reportedly said, How are you? He then said drop it as he saw one of the men draw a .38 caliber pistol. The man shot Investigator Thomasson in the hand with the first shot, and then shot him in the chest with the second shot. He fell to his knees and leaned against a sapling. He fired seven times and killed the man. Investigator Thomasson reportedly groaned, Oh Mitch get him, he got me.

The other agent saw gun flashes and heard someone scream out, but he could not investigate because he was guarding the prisoners. The state inspector also saw the gun flashes and began chasing a fleeing suspect later identified as a 15-year-old. Despite firing three shots at the fleeing suspect, the boy escaped in a boat. Officers made a sweep of the area and arrested more than a dozen people.

Investigator Thomasson had been stationed in Austin as a prohibition officer for more than four years, and after the repeal of prohibition, he served in the federal liquor tax enforcement unit. He was survived by his wife and 5-year-old daughter. He was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

Under a new law that made the death of federal agents in the line of duty a federal offense, three men were charged with murder and six others were charged with conspiracy. One of the men was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, but he appealed his case and got a new trial. He was again sentenced to life in prison.

Source: Website      Click
More from U.S. DOJ - ATF
Add A Tribute Last Updated: May. 29, 2019 Add to Favorites




Keirsey/1930

Elliott/1930

Boyle/1924

Svec/1932

Sutherlin/1923

Champion/1923

Kress/1921

Webb/1920

Pritchett/1936
Brandon/1963
Berglin/1932
Jackson/1927
Matthies/1927
Madigan/1926
McShane/1922
Hagwood/1927
Yazvac/1926
Carter Jr./1927
Home Page View Tribute Wall Search & Read Fallen Hero Stories Member Section Contact Us Make A Donation Our Policies Valued Links
Visitors Today - 0(0)
this entire site copyright© 1999 ----> 2025    Contact Us West Palm Beach, FL 33462
MemberID: 0(N)   Logged In: N   IP: 0