In the spring of 1948, a domestic disturbance call on April 14th forever altered the lives of the Rickles family. Deputy Sheriff Dewey Rickles, a 48-year-old man, responded to a residence in Morris, a community in Jefferson County near Birmingham, Alabama. An 18-year veteran of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, he was known for his dedication and service to the citizens he swore to protect.
Upon entering the home, Deputy Rickles was met with sudden and fatal violence.
A man inside opened fire with a. 22 caliber rifle, striking the deputy three times. The wounds proved to be mortal, and Deputy Rickles died at the scene. The tranquility of the day was shattered by this abrupt act of violence, leaving a wife and daughter to mourn the loss of a husband and father.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the suspect did not remain at large for long. Minutes after Deputy Rickles was killed, a fellow officer who had also responded to the call confronted the assailant. In the ensuing moments, the suspect was shot and killed by the other officer, bringing a swift and decisive end to the violent encounter.
