In the early spring of 1913, a tragic event unfolded on Maine Street in the small community of Lowell, near Bisbee, Arizona, forever marking the history of the Cochise County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Sheriff John Rooney, a 53-year-old male, was engaged in his duties, attempting to arrest two brothers alongside another deputy. What began as a routine apprehension quickly escalated into a violent and fatal confrontation.
The two suspects, whose names are not widely publicized in the
historical accounts, had initially been taken into custody. However, the situation took a dark turn when they began to actively resist the deputies' authority. In the ensuing struggle, one of the brothers managed to overpower Deputy Rooney, seizing his service revolver. With the deputy's own weapon turned against him, the suspect fired, inflicting a fatal wound.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the second deputy on the scene reacted swiftly to the grave threat. He returned fire, and in the exchange, the brother who had shot Deputy Rooney was killed. The other brother's fate is not detailed in the available records, but the violent encounter left one lawman and one of his assailants dead.
Deputy Sheriff John Rooney had been with the department for just over a year at the time of his death, having been appointed in February of 1912. His sudden and violent end left behind a son and a brother. He was a respected member of his community, belonging to both the Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus. His body was laid to rest in the Elks plot at Evergreen Cemetery, a permanent reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement in the line of duty.
