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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Reuben LaFayette Hughett

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch June 15, 1930

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 134 · Column 1 · Line 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 312

Incident

Location: Tennessee Incident Date: Friday, June 13, 1930 Weapon: Handgun; Revolver Offender: Paroled in 1942

Deputy Marshal Reuben Hughett succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier as he and several other officers attempted to serve a warrant on present-day Maynardville Highway in the Copper Ridge in Knox County, Tennessee.

The suspects named in the warrant had sold liquor to a prohibition agent several days earlier. After serving the warrant, one of the men asked to go inside to retrieve personal items. Deputy Marshal Hughett allowed him to go inside, but followed him into the home. The man told Deputy Marshal Hughett to wait in one room as the man went into another, but Deputy Marshal Hughett continued to follow him. A struggle ensued, and the man produced a revolver and shot Deputy Marshal Hughett. The suspect was then taken into custody.

Deputy Marshal Hughett was transported to Fort Sanders Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds on June 15, 1930.

The suspect, 41, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 21 years. He was paroled on January 5, 1942, but as he left Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, he was confronted by a U.S. Marshall who took him into custody and transported him to Leavenworth to serve a 5 year sentence for violating the prohibition law. In 1953, he was sentenced to a year in prison after he shot at a Tennessee state trooper a year earlier, who stopped him for careless and reckless driving. He was paroled after serving four months, but on November 6, 1954, he was returned to prison for violating his parole. He was ordered to serve the remaining eight months for driving without a license. On February 7, 1957, he was shot and killed by his son.

Deputy Marshal Hughett was a United States Army veteran. He was survived by his wife. His father had served as the sheriff of the Scott County Sheriff's Office (Tennessee).

Survivors

He was survived by his wife. He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Hughett served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 15, 1930

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Military Service

Reuben LaFayette Hughett served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Reuben is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Reuben was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; revolver, in 0.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded