On August 27, 1900, Chief Deputy W. D. 'Kechi' Johnson of the Grant County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico was fatally ambushed along Whitewater Creek in the Upper Gila region. At the time, he was executing court papers and had arrested a 25-year-old man named Ralph Jenks.
While escorting Jenks, Deputy Johnson was attacked by an unknown assailant who fired upon him, resulting in his death.
The specifics of the ambush, including the identity of the shooter and the motive behind the attack, remain unclear.
Following Deputy Johnson's death, there is no available information regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with the ambush. The lack of detailed records from that period leaves the circumstances surrounding his death largely unresolved.
Deputy Johnson's passing was a significant loss to the Grant County community. His widow, Carrie Pauline Bridges, and their children subsequently relocated to El Paso, Texas. His service and sacrifice are remembered and honored by the law enforcement community.
