James Shirley Wood was a 39-year-old Conservation Officer with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Conservation and manager of Lake Ross Barnett. On the night of October 21, 1984, after issuing a citation earlier that day, he was shot dead at roughly 10:00 p.m. on the front threshold of his Mize, Mississippi home. The shooter arrived carrying a 12-gauge shotgun, asked to speak with Wood when Wood’s wife answered the door, and then fired as Wood came to the door.

Authorities quickly apprehended the man, and the investigation concluded the killing was retaliatory because of the citation. The shooter was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. A responding officer and friend of Wood, Corporal James Bounds of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, suffered a fatal heart attack at the scene after learning of Wood’s death.

If anyone knew Officer Wood, his work around Lake Ross Barnett, or the events that night, please share what you remember.