Patrol Inspector William W. McKee

Patrol Inspector William W. McKee

United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government

End of Watch Friday, April 23, 1926

Add to My Heroes

William W. McKee

Patrol Inspector William McKee was shot and killed while pursuing suspected liquor smugglers near Alambre Ranch about 40 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona.

On the evening of April 23rd, 1926, inspectors surprised three mounted "rum runners" driving five pack horses loaded with alcohol. The bootleggers deserted the pack animals and fled. The officers unloaded the pack horses and loaded the alcohol into one of the two automobiles they had arrived in.

The officers had not traveled far when they encountered an ambush. After a brief battle, the smugglers fled again. Inspector Bill McKee was found shot and killed at the wheel of a patrol car. The suspect who shot him was apprehended and convicted of first-degree murder.

Inspector McKee, a U.S. Army veteran, had served with the United States Border Patrol for only two months. He was survived by his wife.

Bio

Age 39
Tour 2 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Location Arizona
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Convicted

alcohol violation, ambush

LODD Mapping FAQs

Most Recent Reflection

View all 7 Reflections

Patrol Inspector McKee, it's now been 95 years since your sacrifice while protecting our borders, a truly thankless job that takes brave women and men like you to do. I hope your murderer truly paid for his crime.

God Bless, Brother and may your continued rest remain peaceful.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Department

April 23, 2021