Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff C. Roy Kelly was shot and killed by two members of the Barker Gang while investigating a suspicious car at the Davidson Motor Company Garage on East Main Street in West Plains around 9:00 a.m. Sheriff Kelly was investigating the robbery of the McCallon clothing store in West Plains. When Sheriff Kelly noticed a car implicated in the burglary, he approached the vehicle. He opened the door to the vehicle, and one of the men stepped out, pointed his gun at Sheriff Kelly's chest, and fired multiple times. The men drove away. Law enforcement found the abandoned car and their hideout east of Thayer. Inside the house, they found maps and drawings for additional bank and store robberies. One of the suspects was a leader of the Barker-Karpis Gang. He was also responsible for the murder of Chief Manley Jackson of the Pocahontas Police Department, Arkansas. He was later shot and killed by FBI agents. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-C5417B64- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Kelly served with the Howell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the West Plains community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff C. Roy Kelly is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,775 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Howell County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. C. Roy Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How C. Roy Kelly Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. C. Roy Kelly is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. C. Roy Kelly was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Howell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
