Henry Clay Vaughn
Agency patch
Special Deputy Sheriff

Henry Clay Vaughn

Felonious
End of Watch December 18, 1931
Age 53
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Deputy Sheriff Henry Vaughn was shot and killed while searching a car for bootleg liquor on the main road in Nyota. The man claimed he shot Deputy Vaughn in self-defense because the deputy was holding his service weapon.

On April 27, 1932, the man, 35, was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 35 years. A year later he was resentenced to 10 years and was paroled on October 30, 1936.

Deputy Vaughn had been appointed a special deputy to police the mining camp in Nyota.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service March 16th, 2022

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-B1B937AA
Stewardship
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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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Vaughn served with the Blount County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Oneonta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Vaughn.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Oneonta, Blount County, AL
Platform Identity bcso.blount.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1931
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Special Deputy Sheriff Henry Clay Vaughn 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Blount County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Blount County Sheriff's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% 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. Henry Clay Vaughn's cause is highlighted.

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

How Henry Clay Vaughn Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry Clay Vaughn is highlighted in Dec.

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 Clay Vaughn 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

1 officer from Blount County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.