Officer Alma Walters, 29, was killed in the line of duty in Meridian on December 28, 1985. She responded to a domestic disturbance at about 1:30 a.m. on Railroad Street, marking her eighth year with the department. He dragged her into the house; as other officers arrived she warned them that the suspect had her gun. The man then shot her in the neck; an autopsy confirmed a contact gunshot wound to the head as the cause of death.

The assailant was identified as Johnny Rufus Lanier. He fled but was later stopped at a police roadblock and the officer’s revolver was recovered in the vehicle. Lanier was convicted of capital murder, kidnapping and aggravated assault; his initial death sentence in 1986 was later changed to life without parole after a new trial, and he also received two 30-year terms for the other convictions. If anyone knew Officer Walters, her patrols, or has information about that night, please share what can help the record.