Deputy Sheriff William Lonnie Wadford Jr., 40, was killed in the early morning of March 8, 1979, after a routine check at Club 16 east of Canton, Mississippi. While Wadford was inside the club enforcing closing time, a white male broke into his parked patrol car and stole his .357 revolver. Wadford and the club owner, Jackie Mathews, pursued the suspect in the patrol car and spotted a vehicle matching the description. After the driver failed to stop for more than a mile and finally pulled to the shoulder, the suspect fired four shots, striking Wadford in the upper chest and killing him. Mathews returned fire as the suspect fled.

Mississippi State Highway Patrolman Larry Greer established a roadblock; when Mansell approached he shot Greer twice, wounding him. Greer survived after motorists found him and got him to a hospital. The suspect, identified as George G. Mansell, was later apprehended and charged. A jury later acquitted Mansell of murder but convicted him of aggravated assault for shooting Greer; he received a 30-year sentence. Deputy Wadford, a 20-year veteran, was survived by his wife and son.