Jefferson A. Chason, aged 47, was the Chief of Police in Fayetteville, North Carolina. On March 2, 1907, he was fatally wounded while attempting to arrest a man suspected of illegally selling whiskey from his home. The incident occurred in an alley on Church Lane, near Cross Creek Cemetery. Chief Chason, along with Patrolman Owen Lockamy and a third officer, approached the suspect's home when the suspect opened fire on them.
Patrolman Lockamy was killed instantly, while Chief Chason succumbed to his injuries the following day.
The suspect was arrested in Dunn, North Carolina, the day after the shooting. He was later sentenced to death and executed by hanging in the Cumberland County Jail on April 15, 1907. The suspect's identity and background details were not prominently recorded in the sources available.
Chief Chason was survived by his wife and two daughters. His sacrifice is remembered and honored by the law enforcement community, and his legacy continues to inspire those who serve.
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