Grant Weakley
Agency patch
Guard

Grant Weakley

Felonious
End of Watch September 2, 1927
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 53 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Guard Grant Weakley was shot and killed by two escaping inmates after he had transported them along with two other inmates to a dentist's office in New Lexington, Ohio. As an inmate was being attended to, another inmate produced a handgun and opened fire, killing Guard Weakley. As he and another inmate fled from the office, a deputy warden was pulling up and shot and seriously wounded the other inmate and captured Guard Weakley's killer. The other two inmates did not attempt to escape, but one did attempt to stop the other two. It was later discovered that the wife of the inmate who was shot had planted a revolver in the washroom at the dentist's office that Guard Weakley's killer shot him with. The woman, another woman, and two men who went with her to plant the gun were apprehended and charged with murder along with the two inmates. The inmate, age 30, who shot Guard Weakley was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. His sentence started in 1931 after the expiration of his first sentence. The other inmate was convicted of manslaughter and had 10 to 20 years added to his existing sentence for possession of concealed weapons. His wife was tried and acquitted. Charges were dropped against the others. Guard Weakley served at the State Brick Plant in Junction City.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, a brother, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-32CD8A6A
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.
Guard Weakley served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Weakley.

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

Agency

Location Columbus, OH
Platform Identity odrc.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1927
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; Revolver
Offender Sentenced to life

Guard Grant Weakley 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 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 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 18 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
18
of 26 officers
69.2% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% 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. Grant Weakley'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 Grant Weakley Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Grant Weakley is highlighted in Sep.

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. Grant Weakley was killed by handgun; revolver.

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

Incident Location