Sheriff George E. "Doc" Moody

George E. "Doc" Moody

Sheriff Doc Moody was shot and killed while attempting to evict a man who was illegally staying in a house.

A man who had returned to his farm home after being away for the winter encountered the man in his house and was threatened with a rifle. The man went to the sheriff and swore out a warrant.

Sheriff Moody and two deputies returned to the house and told the man to come out. When the man came out, he fired a shot into the air from his rifle. Sheriff Moody returned fire, striking him in the hand twice. The man then shot his rifle again, striking Sheriff Moody in the chest. The man then fired at the deputies, who were all unarmed.

The suspect stole one of the vehicles and fled the scene. He was located by a posse a short time later and shot and killed.

Sheriff Moody had served as the Sheriff of Richland County Sheriff's Department for 11 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.