In the early morning hours of September 7, 1930, a dedicated Alexandria police officer, Private August Perault Pierce, was on patrol along the Alexandria-Washington Highway, now U.S. Route 1. The 32-year-old officer was actively searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a series of robberies that had plagued the area. Known as 'Perry' to his fellow officers, Pierce had been with the department for less than a year, having joined on January 6, 1930.
Around 4:30 a.m., near Four Mile Run, Private Pierce spotted a man who matched the description of the robbery suspect. He confronted the individual, a 17-year-old named Owen Wroten from South Carolina, near a car barn. A struggle ensued, during which Wroten produced a. 32-caliber handgun and shot Private Pierce multiple times. Despite being mortally wounded, with one shot severing his aorta, Private Pierce managed to return fire, striking Wroten multiple times.
A passing citizen, whom Pierce had asked to follow him, arrived to find both men on the ground and immediately sought help. Both Private Pierce and his assailant were transported to Alexandria Hospital. Private Pierce was pronounced dead upon arrival. Owen Wroten succumbed to his injuries the following day. Investigators found both weapons at the scene and determined that at least ten rounds had been fired in the fierce exchange.
Further investigation revealed that Wroten was not only responsible for the recent string of robberies but was also a suspect in the murders of two railroad police officers in the weeks prior to his fatal encounter with Private Pierce. Witnesses later identified Wroten as the individual responsible for the robberies police had been investigating. Private August Perault Pierce, who had served in the Navy during World War I, was survived by his wife, Marie, and a sister. He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
