Video: Aberdeen Police Remember Fallen Officer

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ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s been more than two decades since Aberdeen Police Officer Eric King Wilson was killed in the line duty. He is the only officer killed in the department’s history and Monday, March 14th marks the anniversary of his death. The case remains unsolved but his fellow brothers in blue gathered to honor his service and remember his life.

Aberdeen police officers lead a procession to Baptist Grove Cemetery in Prairie Monday morning. Officer Eric King Wilson was laid to rest there 23 years ago after being shot and killed during a drug surveillance. Lieutenant Aaron Fontenot was friends with Wilson and says his death still impacts the department today.

“We still see it everyday that we come to work and we still know that somebody’s out there who has not been convicted of this,” says Fontenot.

Officer Jimmy Cockerham was the first to arrive on the scene and says he was unprepared for what he found.

“We got a call that shots were fired in a certain area. I was just pretty much in that area. I just rolled up on his car and I saw his lights go out. I went up to him to see did he hear anything and then I found out it was him that got shot and I called it in,” says Cockerham.

Wilson’s parents were raised in Monroe County and he was one of 10 siblings. Though Wilson was born in Virginia, he moved back to Monroe County because it felt like home to him. Wilson’s sister attended the memorial and says the family never thought such a violent act could happen in a small Mississippi town.

“To lose our little brother in this place that we always referred to as home is very, very disheartening to all of us,” says Jo Wilson Bradley.

Officer Wilson was engaged to be married at the time of his death and this was the only department that he served with.

If anyone has any information about the death of Officer Eric King Wilson, contact the Aberdeen Police Department at 662-369-6454.