In the summer of 1904, a local lawman's life was cut tragically short in Provo, Utah. Officer Franklin J. Tucker, a 35-year-old White/Caucasian male, died on June 16th of that year. His death, however, was not the result of a criminal act, but rather a fatal accident that occurred under unexpected circumstances. There were no suspects and no arrests were made in connection with his passing as the cause was determined to be a self-inflicted, accidental gunshot wound.
On that Thursday,
Officer Tucker was assigned to a security detail at the Elks Carnival in Provo. While in the sheriff's office located in the Utah County building, he made a movement to stand up and leave. As he did so, the revolver he carried in his back pocket dislodged and fell to the floor. The impact of the weapon hitting the ground caused it to discharge.
The single bullet fired from the fallen revolver struck Officer Tucker, entering his hip and traveling upward through his body, ultimately piercing his heart. The injury was catastrophic, and he succumbed to the wound almost immediately. At the time of his unexpected death, Officer Tucker was a husband and a father to four children. He was later laid to rest in the Provo City Cemetery.
