In the evening hours of August 14, 1979, Mobile Police Department Patrolman Henry Johnny Booth, a 30-year-old male, was on duty. An eight-year veteran of the force and a Vietnam War veteran, he was attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted individual. The subject of the warrant was Ervin Edwards, who was sought for misdemeanor assault with a gun.
At approximately 7:55 p.m., Officer Booth located Edwards and a struggle ensued as he tried to make the arrest.
During the physical altercation, Edwards managed to gain control of Officer Booth's service revolver. He then shot the officer, inflicting a fatal wound. Another officer arrived on the scene to find Officer Booth's patrol car with its engine and lights still on, and discovered Booth's body in an alley between two houses. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Ervin Edwards was subsequently arrested and charged with the capital murder of a police officer. His initial trial resulted in a conviction and a death sentence. However, this conviction was later overturned by the Alabama Supreme Court, leading to a new trial. On December 12, 1983, a second trial concluded with a conviction for the lesser charge of manslaughter. For this conviction, Ervin Edwards was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
