Henry Franklin Griffin
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

Henry Franklin Griffin

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 6, 1872
Age 31
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Frank Griffin was shot and killed while searching a home two miles north of Tyler, Texas, for two brothers who had escaped from jail. The two had been arrested by the United States marshal for stealing cash from the United States mail system. After the brothers escaped a posse that included Deputy Marshal Griffin was formed to search for them. The posse went to the family home where they encountered their mother, who denied the men were there and refused to let the posse enter. The marshal was able to convince the mother to allow the home to be searched. As the marshal talked with the woman Deputy Marshal Griffin and other posse members began searching the rooms. As Deputy Marshal Griffin opened a door to a backroom he was shot in the chest by one of the men and killed instantly. The other officers retreated from the home. After several hours in which the men refused to surrender the home was set on fire, at which time they surrendered. The two brothers were convicted of Deputy Griffin's murder but their sentence is not known. Deputy Marshal Griffin was a Confederate Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-36185C12
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Griffin served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1872
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Henry Franklin Griffin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy U.S. Marshal Henry Franklin Griffin 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 53.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
251
of 313 officers
80.2% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry Franklin Griffin's cause is highlighted.

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

How Henry Franklin Griffin Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Franklin Griffin is highlighted in Oct.

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. Henry Franklin Griffin 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

Military Service

Henry Franklin Griffin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Henry Franklin Griffin’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.