In the late summer of 1926, the life of Deputy Sheriff Perry Chuculate of the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office was tragically cut short. At the age of 34, the male deputy was killed in the line of duty. On Friday, August 27, 1926, Deputy Chuculate and a fellow deputy were actively searching for a stolen vehicle when they pulled over a speeding car. As the two officers approached the stopped vehicle, the occupants emerged and opened fire with rifles, fatally wounding Deputy Chuculate.
He had served with the sheriff's office for two years.
The individuals in the car were later identified as members of a gang of bank robbers. The group was led by the Kimes brothers, who had just carried out a robbery. Following the shooting, the Kimes brothers were apprehended and ultimately faced legal consequences for their actions.
The two brothers were convicted of manslaughter in connection with the murder of Deputy Chuculate and were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. One of the brothers, Matthew Kimes, later managed to escape from prison and continued a life of crime. He went on to join another gang and was involved in further violent crimes before being arrested again in Arizona the following year.
