In the early morning hours of May 26, 1916, a sense of duty called Huntsville Police Officer Frank McKissack to the vicinity of the city's train depot. At 31 years of age, he was a husband and a father to a seven-month-old daughter. While on patrol with a fellow officer, he observed two young men attempting to hop onto an outbound train, a common and dangerous practice.
As the officers moved to intervene, the situation escalated with tragic suddenness.
One of the individuals, a 17-year-old, produced a handgun and opened fire. A bullet struck Officer McKissack in the chest, inflicting a mortal wound. Despite the grievous injury, he managed to draw his own weapon and return fire, wounding the person who had shot him.
His partner was able to take the 17-year-old shooter into custody. Officer McKissack, however, succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was subsequently tried and convicted of first-degree murder, receiving a life sentence for his actions. In a turn of events, on October 22, 1932, Governor B. M. Miller granted the individual a pardon.
