Patrolman Leonard Conerely was killed in the line of duty in Columbia, Mississippi, after responding to a report of an armed man. Officers had been told the suspect entered a bank with a pistol and a knife. Conerely later found the man walking on a nearby street, at which point the suspect now carried a shotgun. As Conerely approached, the suspect fired, striking him in the head. The assailant then used his pistol to fire at other officers who were arriving before he was taken into custody.

Conerely had served with the Columbia Police Department for seven years and left behind a wife and three children. The man responsible, described as 28 years old, was convicted of capital murder and aggravated assault and on May 29, 1980 was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison.

Did anyone in Columbia at that time have additional details about the response or the suspect’s actions that night?