Sergeant James Joshua Cowart
Des Moines Police Department, Iowa
End of Watch Monday, December 7, 1931
James Joshua Cowart
Sergeant James Cowart was shot and killed by a former deputy sheriff he had arrested five years earlier.
He was at home when the subject knocked on his door. When he answered it the subject, standing in the yard, fired a single shot through the glass-enclosed porch, striking Sergeant Cowart in the stomach.
Arriving officers found the subject fatally wounded after his shotgun accidentally discharged as he attempted to dismantle it.
Sergeant Cowart had served with the Des Moines Police Department for nine years.
Bio
Age Not available
Tour 9 years
Badge 96
Incident Details
Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Sunday, December 6, 1931
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Accidentally killed himself
∼One day in 1926, Sgt. Cowart had to use force when he arrested Arthur Thornton, a former County Deputy. Five years later, there came a knock on Sgt. Cowart's front door. When he went out to answer it, a man standing in the yard fired a single shot through the glass-enclosed porch, striking Cowart in the stomach. Responding officers found Thornton fatally wounded in his automobile. The shotgun had apparently fired when he went to disassemble it. Cowart died the next day on Monday, December 7, 1931. (Taken from: Behind the Badge)
Sergeant James Joshua Cowart
Des Moines Police Department, Iowa
End of Watch Monday, December 7, 1931
James Joshua Cowart
Sergeant James Cowart was shot and killed by a former deputy sheriff he had arrested five years earlier.
He was at home when the subject knocked on his door. When he answered it the subject, standing in the yard, fired a single shot through the glass-enclosed porch, striking Sergeant Cowart in the stomach.
Arriving officers found the subject fatally wounded after his shotgun accidentally discharged as he attempted to dismantle it.
Sergeant Cowart had served with the Des Moines Police Department for nine years.
Bio
Age Not available
Tour 9 years
Badge 96
Incident Details
Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Sunday, December 6, 1931
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Accidentally killed himself
∼One day in 1926, Sgt. Cowart had to use force when he arrested Arthur Thornton, a former County Deputy. Five years later, there came a knock on Sgt. Cowart's front door. When he went out to answer it, a man standing in the yard fired a single shot through the glass-enclosed porch, striking Cowart in the stomach. Responding officers found Thornton fatally wounded in his automobile. The shotgun had apparently fired when he went to disassemble it. Cowart died the next day on Monday, December 7, 1931. (Taken from: Behind the Badge)
Gravesite Details
War veteran's medal
Family Members
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