In the early morning of December 11, 1991, 28-year-old Deputy Sheriff Allen Richard Lipford of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was fatally shot in Mountain City, Tennessee. Lipford, an eight-year department veteran, had been arriving and exiting his patrol car to assist after an inmate escaped the county jail around 3:15 a.m. The 24-year-old escapee had overpowered two deputies, taken a service revolver, and during a confrontation in the parking lot disarmed another deputy. The suspect then fired, striking Lipford in the head. Lipford was taken to a hospital in Boone, North Carolina, where he died.

The accused was found the next day hiding under a pile of leaves in Shady Valley and was taken into custody. He was convicted of murder and given a life sentence; in 1993 an additional 25 years were added for other crimes including theft and armed robbery. Deputy Lipford was survived by his wife and a two-year-old daughter, and a bridge was later named in his honor. Does anyone have memories of Deputy Lipford or information about that night to share?