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Incident
Location: Montana Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Shot and killed
Deputy Sheriff Jack O'Harra was shot and killed while attempting to arrest members of a horse thief gang.
The United States Marshals Office enlisted the aid of deputies to transport a suspected member of the horse thief gang from Miles City, Montana, to Deadwood, South Dakota. The gang planned to rescue the prisoner, and Deputy O'Harra, with two other officers, set on the trail to track down the gang heading westward.
A gunfight ensued at Stoneville, currently known as Alzada, Montana, where Deputy O'Harra was mortally wounded. A member of the gang was killed. Three escaped but were killed by cowboys in the area. Another was killed the next day. One was injured, captured, and while recovering in the hospital in Spearfish, he was hanged. The leader of the gang was killed in Mexico years later. The prisoner was safely transported to prison.
Deputy O'Harra was survived by his wife and children.
He is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery at Spearfish, Lawrence County, South Dakota.
Survivors
Deputy O'Harra was survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff O'Harra served with the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Deadwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
John is the only officer of Lawrence County Sheriff's Office remembered here.
John is one of 37 officers killed feloniously in SD, 57.8% of the 64 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
John is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1884, 2 officers in SD were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 28 years on record. The heaviest was 2011, with 3.
In 1884, 52 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 137th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1884, 54 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 136th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 31. Of the 31 killed feloniously in SD whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 49.5; the middle age was 37.
John was 31. 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.
John was 31. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
February holds 5.4% of these deaths in SD; September holds the most, 21.6%. Thursdays: 18.9%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 1 deaths at Lawrence County Sheriff's Office. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.8% of all 64 deaths in SD, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 10.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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