Francis Xavier Mooney
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Francis Xavier Mooney

Felonious
End of Watch May 19, 1923
Age 48
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Frank Mooney succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on May 2nd, 1923, while he was serving a writ of replevin for furniture at a home at 161 Winslow Street in Pittsburgh.

Deputy Mooney had escorted two workers to the home to remove the furniture listed in the order. The homeowner returned home after about half of the furniture had been moved from the house onto the sidewalk. When Deputy Mooney refused to stop the removal of the furniture the man grabbed a revolver from the drawer of a bureau that had been removed and opened fire. Deputy Mooney was struck once in the head and once in the back as he attempted to seek cover.

Several Pittsburgh police officers responded to the scene and arrested the man in the front yard. The subject was subsequently charged with murder after Deputy Mooney died on May 19th, 1923. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder. He was paroled in 1931.

Deputy Mooney served with the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-060EF071
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Mooney gave the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsburgh community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mooney.

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

Agency

Location Pittsburgh, PA
Platform Identity acso.allegheny.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 1923
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Paroled in 1931

Deputy Sheriff Francis Xavier Mooney is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis Xavier Mooney's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Francis Xavier Mooney Compares

Age at End of Watch
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1931

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francis Xavier Mooney is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francis Xavier Mooney was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location