On September 22, 1929 at about 6:00 pm, Sheriff London was shot while he, Deputy Smith and Night Marshal Sutherland attempted to arrest a man at his home on 61 Detour, 8 miles south of Farmington. The suspect, who had suffered from mental illness for several years had threatened several people, attacked his 71 year-old father and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Sheriff London and the deputy and night marshal went to the home located about 8 miles south of Farmington, Missouri to make the arrest and found the suspect on the front porch. Several attempts to get the suspect to surrender failed. The suspect obtained a shotgun from inside the residence and opened fire on the officers, mortally wounding Sheriff London who died three days later at Bonne Terre Hospital on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:45 am. The other two deputies returned fire, killing the suspect.

Sheriff London was with the agency for 13 years and was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren and five siblings. Interred: Doe Run Cemetery, Doe Run, MO.