The first Man killed in the Civil War

In all of my research, I have came up with three men, who may be the first man killed in the Civil war. The first is a colored freeman, by the name Heyward Shepherd. He was a baggage handler, for the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Shepherd was shot in the early morning hours, of Oct. 17, 1859 during John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. He was working, when curiosity must have taken over. He went to the railroad bridge,where earlier Brown's men had held the east bound express train for several hours. He was ordered to halt at which time he turned an ran. He was shot through the body, but he made it back to the railroad station, where he died at 3 o' clock the next day.

The second man, I have found is a Mr. Thomas Boerly. He was headed for the corner of High and Shenandoh Streets of Harper's Ferry, at 7 am Oct. 17, 1859. Shortly before his arrival Mr Alexander Kelly approached the same corner, armed with a shotgun. Mr Kelly was fired upon ,sending a bullet through his hat. Mr. Boerly in turn fired at the guard at the gate. He was shot at from behind the arsenal fence, and hit in the groin. Causing him to perish a few hours later.

I believe the reason these two men are not the first men killed is the war didn't officially start for another two years in 1861. A lot of the ground work was laid for the Civil War during John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. So this is probaly the reason some claim these two men as the first killed.

The third is Pvt. Thornsbery Bailey Brown aka T. Bailey Brown who was shot and killed in Taylor County WV. on May 22, 1861. Pvt. Brown and Lt. Daniel Wilson were headed toward Grafton on the Northwestern highway from Pruntytown. Where they had been trying to recruit men. As they crossed the bridge over the river they came upon three Confederate soldiers and were ordered to halt. At which time Pvt. Brown drew his weapon and fired wounding Knight on the ear. Daniel knight returned fire killing Pvt. Brown. Causing Pvt. Thorsbery Baily Brown to be the first man killed in the civil war.