William Douglas Oyler, a 39-year-old White male, served as a Lieutenant with the Buena Vista Police Department in Virginia. On the night of January 8, 1982, he was responding to a report of shots being fired into a house at the intersection of Locust Avenue and 33rd Street. As he arrived at the scene, an assailant who had concealed themselves in a nearby wooded area ambushed his police cruiser.
Before he could even exit his vehicle, Lieutenant Oyler was struck by a gunshot to the neck.
The wound proved to be fatal, and William Douglas Oyler died that same day at Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, Virginia. His death was a profound loss to his family and the community he served, where he was a respected figure. Beyond his role in law enforcement, he was actively involved in several community organizations, including serving as the president of the Fraternal Order of Police and past president of the Shenandoah Crime Clinic and the Buena Vista Fire Department.
Following the investigation into the shooting, an arrest was made. The individual responsible for the ambush was subsequently convicted of murder. A measure of justice was served when the court sentenced the shooter to 53 years in prison for the death of Lieutenant Oyler. He was survived by his wife, a son, and three daughters. He is buried in Green Hill Cemetery and Mausoleum in Buena Vista.
