Officer Stephen Samuel Kent

Stephen Samuel Kent

Officer Stephen Kent was shot and killed in Yreka, California while attempting to arrest a man who was wanted for numerous robberies and kidnapping in several states.

The suspect had abducted a United States Customs patrolman in Bellingham, Washington, and drove him to California, where he tied him to a tree. He then stole the patrolman's service revolver before driving to Yreka. As Officer Kent, deputies from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, and a civilian attempted to stop the car on Yreka's main street. The man opened fire on them, killing Officer Kent and the citizen before being taken into custody by the sheriff and a deputy.

The subject was convicted of the murder and executed in 1936.

Officer Kent was a U.S. Navy veteran.