On April 11, 1983, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Z. Moore, aged 35, was tragically shot and killed in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. He and his wife, Lieutenant Sharon Moore, were both deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. The couple was leaving their home in uniform on their way to work when they were chased by William J. Bryant, the ex-husband of Lieutenant Moore.
Bryant had been stalking Lieutenant Moore over an ongoing custody dispute.
As Deputy Moore drove towards the Reynoldsburg police station, Bryant began shooting at them from his vehicle. A Reynoldsburg police officer who was running radar joined the pursuit and followed them to a parking lot at 6109 East Main Street. There, Deputy Moore and the Reynoldsburg officer exchanged gunfire with Bryant. Both Deputy Moore and Lieutenant Moore sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Bryant then re-entered his own car and committed suicide.
Lieutenant Moore succumbed to her injuries three weeks after the incident. Bryant, aged 42, was identified as the assailant. He had a history of legal disputes with Lieutenant Moore, including multiple actions filed between 1971 and 1973 to collect back child-support payments. Bryant had also been involved in a high-speed chase with the Moores before the shooting.
The incident was a tragic end to a long-standing custody dispute and highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Deputy Moore's dedication and ultimate sacrifice were honored by the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation.
