Deputy O'Neal Moore

O'Neal Moore (1931-1965) and his partner, David “Creed” Rogers, were the first black deputies of the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. On June 2, 1965, they were ambushed in a drive-by shooting by alleged members of the Ku Klux Klan, resulting in Moore's brutal murder and the wounding of Rogers, which left him blind in one eye. Moore was survived by his wife, Mavella Moore, and four daughters, Tressler, Regenia, Veronica, and Sheronda Moore. This was one of many incidents that activated the Legendary Deacons of Defense of Bogalusa, Louisiana, who later protected the remaining members of the Moore family. Moore, Rogers, and many others made grave sacrifices to help ensure the success of the Civil Rights Movement, and the O'Neal Moore murder case remains unsolved.

Varnado, Louisiana · United States