In the early morning hours of December 28, 1985, Meridian Police Officer Alma Walters, a 29-year-old woman, was tragically killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. The incident unfolded at approximately 1:30 a.m. at a residence on Railroad Street, marking the eighth anniversary of her service with the department. Upon her arrival, Officer Walters encountered an intoxicated man, who then attacked her, knocking her to the ground and seizing her service weapon.
The assailant
dragged Officer Walters into the house. As other officers arrived at the scene, she heroically warned them of the danger by shouting that the suspect had her gun. Shortly after her warning, the man shot her in the neck, causing her fatal injury. An autopsy later confirmed she died from a contact gunshot wound to the head.
The man responsible for Officer Walters' death was identified as Johnny Rufus Lanier. He fled the scene but was later apprehended at a police roadblock, and Officer Walters' revolver was found in the vehicle he was in. Lanier, who was 26 at the time of his initial sentencing, was convicted of capital murder and initially sentenced to death on August 25, 1986. Following a new trial, this sentence was changed on October 27, 1989, to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In addition to the murder charge, he was also convicted of kidnapping and aggravated assault, receiving two 30-year sentences for these crimes. As of late 2022, he remained incarcerated.
