Gordon Barnes
Agency patch
Deputy Game Warden

Gordon Barnes

Felonious
End of Watch February 5, 1945
Age 39
Tour of Duty 10 mo
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes was shot and killed while investigating a hunting complaint near Pocomoke City on the Eastern Shore. While returning from church Warden Barnes noticed a subject acting suspicious and entering a field with a shotgun approximately one mile east of Pocomoke City on the Pocomoke City-Snow Hill Highway. The warden was dropped off by his wife to investigate further and was found dead one day later. The subject was convicted of Deputy Warden Barne's murder and hanged on December 29th, 1945. Deputy Barnes had served with the Maryland Natural Resources Police for only 10 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and infant child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-A7D75A81
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.
Deputy Game Warden Barnes served with the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
Thank you for your service to the Annapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Game Warden Barnes.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Annapolis, MD
Platform Identity mnrcons.annearundel.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 5, 1945
Tour of Duty 10 mo
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Game Warden Gordon Barnes 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Maryland Natural Resources Police, 1 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.

Maryland Natural Resources Police
1
of 5 officers
20% Felonious
MD — Statewide
195
of 377 officers
51.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon Barnes's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Gordon Barnes Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon Barnes is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gordon Barnes was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location