Deputy Sheriff Charles Layton

Charles Layton

Deputy Sheriff Charles Layton, Deputy Sheriff Jim Beckwith, and Deputy Sheriff Joaquin De La Torre were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for murdering two other people.

They were members of a posse organized by the sheriff that had gone to the man's shack along the Salinas River south of Rancho El Tucho (Rancho Las Salinas). A woman came to the back door and told Deputy De La Torre that the suspect was not there. The man suddenly emerged from inside and fatally shot Deputy De La Torre before shooting Deputy Layton and Deputy Beckwith.

The man fled on Deputy Beckwith's horse but was later captured by a mob and lynched.

Deputy Layton succumbed to his wounds nine days later.

Deputy Layton was a military veteran.