Sheriff
Ray Samuel Compton
Rush County Sheriff's Department
Monday, October 3, 1932

Age: 41
Served: 3 years, 9 months
Badge #:
Panel 51E, Line 5
Panel L7, Line 7

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Monday, October 3, 1932
12:00 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
U.S. 52, Circleville
Incident County:
Rush
Incident Township:
Rushville
Weapon Used:
.38-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
Died by suicide
Burial Place:
East Hill Cemetery, Rushville

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   Sheriff Ray Compton was shot and killed while he and two deputies attempted to serve warrants on a man for illegally operating stills and selling liquor.

   They were met at the door of the farmhouse by the 18-year-old wife of the suspect, who stalled while her husband ran upstairs before he fired twice, striking Sheriff Compton.

   The 35-year-old suspect escaped but later died by suicide after being involved in a shootout with Cincinnati, Ohio, police officers. At the time Sheriff Compton was killed, the suspect was wanted for several homicides committed in Iowa and Missouri.

   Sheriff Compton, a Republican from Rushville, was in the second year of his second, two-year term in office and survived by his wife, 15-year-old daughter, parents, brother and sister.

   Clarence "Ed" Compton, his uncle and a deputy with the department, was appointed sheriff to serve the remainder of his nephew's term.


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Sheriff Ray Samuel Compton - Rush County Sheriff's Department - INLEM.org