In the quiet hills of Sneedville, Tennessee, a routine law enforcement action on an April evening in 1961 escalated into a tragic event that would claim the lives of two dedicated law enforcement officers. Deputy Sheriff Alonzo Brownlow Tyler, a 50-year-old male, along with his partner, Deputy Alex G. Morris Sr., found themselves in a fatal confrontation that stemmed from the attempted arrest of a local constable.
The events of that night left a lasting scar on the small community and the families of the fallen deputies.
The incident began when Deputy Tyler and Deputy Morris attempted to stop a county constable who was reportedly drinking and driving. A pursuit ensued, leading the deputies to the constable's home. What should have been a standard arrest spiraled out of control when members of the constable's family emerged and opened fire on the two deputies. In the ensuing gunfire, both Deputy Tyler and Deputy Morris were mortally wounded. The constable they had been pursuing was also killed in the exchange.
In the aftermath of the deadly shootout, an investigation was launched, leading to the indictment of several individuals in connection with the murders of the two deputies. A trial was held in September of that same year, bringing some measure of justice for the slain officers. The court proceedings culminated in the conviction of one of the suspects, Carl Myers, who was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of both Deputy Alonzo Tyler and Deputy Alex Morris. Another individual, James Horton, was found guilty of felonious assault. Several other individuals who were also charged in the incident were ultimately acquitted of the charges against them.
