Special Agent Thomas Holland

Thomas Holland

Special Agent Thomas Holland succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained one week earlier when he was shot in Laramie County, Wyoming while assisting a United States Immigration inspector.

The chief immigration inspector had arrived from Denver to check establishments frequented by Chinese immigrants. They encountered a man who was reported to be in the country illegally. As they walked the man to the sheriff's office for further questioning the subject suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Special Agent Thomas in the stomach as they approached the city fire station on Pioneer Avenue.

He then began to chase the immigration inspector, who ran into the fire station. The subject followed him into the fire station, where he fatally shot Fireman John Federhen, before fleeing.

The subject was arrested, convicted of his murder, and subsequently hanged on March 11th, 1921.

Special Agent Holland had served in law enforcement for 17 years.

Special Agent Holland's photograph is provided courtesy of the Wyoming State Archives, Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.