Sheriff C. Roy Kelly was shot and killed by two members of the Barker Gang while investigating a suspicious car. At approximately 7:40 pm, Alvin Karpis and Fred Barker drove a blue DeSoto sedan to the Davidson Garage on East Main Street in West Plains, Missouri to have two flat tires repaired. The repair man noted the treat pattern on the tires was similar to those of a car involved in a burglary of the C.C. McCallon Clothing Store. He had the garage owner call Sheriff Kelly. Sheriff Kelly responded to the garage and requested to look the car over. Karpis said "ok" then shot Sheriff Kelly twice in the chest striking him in the heart. Barker simultaneously fired from behind Sheriff Kelly striking him in the right arm. Sheriff Kelly drew his gun but was unable to return fire before he died.

The bullet ridden DeSoto was discovered by hunters. The investigation led to a farm in Thayer, Missouri used as a hideout by the Barker Gang but the fugitives had already fled the Ozark area. Fred Barker and his mother Ma Barker were killed in a shootout in Florida several years later. Karpis was apprehended in New Orleans, served time in the penitentiary until his parole in 1969. Karpis was subsequently deported to Canada. He then moved to Spain in 1973 where he died from a drug overdose in 1979.

Sheriff Kelly was survived by his wife, Lulu, who served out his term as sheriff. Interred: Masonic & Van Buren Cemetery, Van Buren, Missouri.