Deputy Marion Lee Corky Guthrie, 52, was killed on July 12, 1980, while responding to a silent alarm at Lad’s Pharmacy in Canadian, Texas. Guthrie was ambushed and shot twice with a shotgun before he could exit his patrol car. The first shot came from several yards away; the second was fired at point-blank range after the suspect opened the driver’s side door. When Guthrie was found, his patrol car was still running and his gun remained holstered.

The suspect, Paul Berry Bush, 27, of Amarillo, was arrested the next day and charged with capital murder. Bush’s first two trials ended in hung juries. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death at a later trial; the Texas Court of Appeals ordered a new trial on February 3, 1982, and Bush was again convicted and sentenced to death on September 26, 1982. Another trial was ordered on July 24, 1985; Bush died on death row at Huntsville Penitentiary on June 17, 1986.

Guthrie had served with the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Department for over a year and previously with the Perryton Police Department. He was survived by his wife and several children and was remembered by colleagues and the community as a dedicated officer and a good friend.

If anyone knew Deputy Guthrie or has information about the events around the alarm at Lad’s Pharmacy, please share what you remember.