Detective James Britton was shot and killed when he and three other officers went at 0530 hours to arrest a group of outlaws. When the officers entered the suspects opened fire, fatally wounding Detective Britton. Detective Britton was able to return fire and kill one of the suspects and wound a second. The third suspect was also shot and wounded by another officer.

One suspect, sentenced to life, escaped from Fort Madison Penitentiary in 1921. In 1929 he was recaptured in Vancouver, British Columbia, and returned to Iowa. He was paroled October 18, 1943.

Detective Britton was buried at Graceland Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa.