In the late hours of a Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama, on November 7, 1908, Police Officer John W. Little was preparing to raid an illegal liquor den. He was a man known for his unwavering commitment to his duty, described by those who knew him as modest and gentle in his daily life, yet brave and bold when it came to his work. On this particular night, he and his partner approached the targeted house with a plan to cover both the front and back exits to prevent any escapes.
As his
partner went to the front entrance, Officer Little made his way to the back of the house. The sound of his partner knocking on the front door alerted the occupants to the presence of law enforcement. In a sudden and violent turn of events, a guest inside the liquor den, realizing the police were upon them, opened the back door and fired at Officer Little.
Though mortally wounded in the ambush, Officer Little managed to return fire, his actions ensuring the man who shot him would not escape justice. The initial suspect was killed in this exchange of gunfire. The chaos was not over, as the owner of the liquor establishment then turned his weapon on Officer Little's partner. The second officer, reacting swiftly to the new threat, also returned fire and killed the second assailant. Despite his own heroic actions that led to the death of his attacker, Police Officer Little succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
