In the small town of Ringwood, Oklahoma, a day meant for celebration turned into one of tragedy and violence. On Christmas Day in 1903, the life of City Marshal Levi Elmer Ferguson was cut short in a fatal confrontation. The 30-year-old lawman was attempting to arrest a man by the name of Clint Fox, who had reportedly been making threats against the marshal's life and was carrying a concealed weapon.
The encounter took place inside a local meat market, owned by Fox's uncle.
As Marshal Ferguson moved to apprehend him, Fox drew a firearm and shot the marshal twice. Ferguson stumbled out of the store and fell to the ground. Fox then fired a third shot at the fallen lawman, though this one missed its mark. Marshal Ferguson succumbed to his injuries at the scene, leaving behind a wife, Zoe Ona Elsie, and their several children.
The sound of gunfire drew a crowd of townspeople who quickly gathered. In the ensuing chaos, Clint Fox fled, but he did not get far. A running gun battle erupted between Fox and the enraged citizens. Within half a mile of the initial shooting, the crowd had cornered Fox and he was shot and killed, bringing a swift and violent end to the day's tragic events. Levi Elmer Ferguson is buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Meno, Major County, Oklahoma.
