Sheriff Joseph Branscomb was shot and killed in an ambush by a man he had previously arrested.

Sheriff Branscomb was sitting in M.E. Hewitt & Son's store reading, when a man entered the store, drew his revolver and shot Sheriff Branscomb in the left chest. Sheriff Branscomb fell to the floor, the suspect fired another shot, ran out and fled on horseback. Sheriff Branscomb died of his wounds 23 days later on July 31, 1865.

On July 8th, the suspect had been heavily intoxicated and several times during the day made threats against Sheriff Branscomb. Sheriff Branscomb had previously arrested the suspect on two occasions for an alleged robbery but the man was later released.

Sheriff Branscomb's son arrested the suspect twelve years later, in February, 1877. The suspect had fled to Kansas and Colorado but was arrested when it was learned he had returned to stay with relatives in Harrison County, Missouri by the sheriff of that county accompanied by Sheriff's Branscomb's two sons. The suspect, Joseph Jacob Stoffle, confessed to the murder and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. His only complaint regarding his sentencing was in relation to his claim that he had not been the principal party in conspiracy to commit the murder. He was later pardoned by the governor in November 1882.

Sheriff Branscomb was survived by at least two sons, his mother, three sisters and a brother. Interred: Maysville Cemetery, Maysville, Missouri.