Gordon Lunsford
Agency patch
Marshal

Gordon Lunsford

Chesapeake Police Department — Chesapeake, OH
Felonious
End of Watch June 3, 1951
Age 40
The Vigil Panel 87 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Marshal Gordon Lunsford was shot and killed as he and a Lawrence County deputy attempted to arrest a man on a peace warrant in the Corryville area of Lawrence County. The two officers were fired on by the suspect when they arrived at his house. The deputy was wounded in the shoulder, head, and leg, but was able to return fire along with Marshal Lunsford. The subject retreated into his house and then shot at Marshal Lunsford, striking him in the head, killing him. The 52-year-old man, who had been wounded in the arm, was arrested in West Virginia as he attempted to make it to a hospital across the state line. He was convicted of Marshal Lunsford's murder and sentenced to life in prison on July 6th, 1951. He was denied release in 1958.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-3C85A214
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.
Marshal Lunsford served with the Chesapeake Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chesapeake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Lunsford.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chesapeake, Lawrence County, OH
Platform Identity cpd.lawrence.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 3, 1951
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Marshal Gordon Lunsford 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chesapeake Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Chesapeake Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% 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 Lunsford's cause is highlighted.

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

How Gordon Lunsford Compares

Age at Death
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon Lunsford is highlighted in Jun.

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 Lunsford 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Chesapeake Police Department are honored on badge.nw.