Undersheriff Michael Mooney

Michael Mooney

Undersheriff Michael Mooney succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on April 20, 1907, six years earlier, when he was shot twice while trying to serve a warrant.

He had gone to the Onondaga Indian Reservation near Syracuse, to serve the warrant for failing to pay a board bill. He located the suspect at the suspect's home on the reservation. The suspect initially offered no resistance. But as they walked from the house, the suspect drew a .32 caliber handgun and shot the undersheriff, knocking him down.

The suspect then shot Undersheriff Mooney a second time as he laid on the ground before fleeing the area. Undersheriff Mooney was taken to a hospital in Syracuse where he remained in very serious condition for several days. He never completely recovered from the wound and died as a result.

Undersheriff Mooney had served with the Madison County Sheriff's Department for 21 years. He was survived by his wife and three sons.