In a tragic turn of events, Assistant Tom Thompson, a 33-year-old male, lost his life in the line of duty in Talladega, AL. Thompson, an 11-year veteran of the Talladega Police Department, held the rank of Assistant Chief.
The incident unfolded after Assistant Chief Thompson arrested three individuals for illegal gambling. Following the arrest, the men offered to lead him to a larger, ongoing game. However, this was a ruse that led him into a deadly ambush.
Upon arriving at the secondary location, he was immediately fired upon and killed by other men who were lying in wait.
In the aftermath of the shooting, a posse was formed to track down the responsible parties. This led to a subsequent shootout where one of the suspects was fatally wounded. During this exchange of gunfire, another police officer sustained a leg injury. The two other initial arrestees were successfully taken into custody. Assistant Chief Thompson was survived by his wife and children.
