In the small town of Opp, Alabama, a violent confrontation on November 11, 1927, resulted in the death of 43-year-old Policeman Lee Clark. The events of that fateful day unfolded from a dispute with alleged bootleggers, an 18-year-old and his father.
Earlier in the day, Officer Clark and his partner, Policeman Edward Nix, had attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by the young man. When he refused to stop, the officers fired at the car.
This initial encounter set the stage for a tragic escalation later in the day.
The tension culminated in a gun battle on a local street corner. The 18-year-old and his father confronted the two officers, and gunfire erupted. In the ensuing shootout, Policeman Lee Clark was fatally wounded. The father and son who had confronted the officers were also killed in the exchange of fire.
The violence of the encounter also left two bystanders wounded. Policeman Edward Nix was mortally wounded during the gunfight and succumbed to his injuries while en route to the hospital, marking a dark day for the Opp Police Department and the community.
