Holmes Davidson

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch July 23, 1914

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Davidson and Deputy Marshal William Plank were shot and killed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while attempting to serve a search warrant on the former Tulsa police chief who had been convicted of violating prohibition laws. When the marshals arrived at the home the man's wife refused to let them in. As the wife delayed the officers the suspect loaded a double-barrelled shotgun and opened fire through the screen door, fatally wounding Deputy Marshal Davidson. He then fired a second shot and killed Deputy Marshal Plank. The suspect reloaded and fired at the third marshal, who was retreating. The suspect then called the police and turned himself in. In 1917 the 44-year-old ex-chief was convicted of two counts of manslaughter and sentenced to four years. He was released in 1921. On October 17, 1923, he was found dead in his Tulsa home from a stroke that doctors said was caused by excessive drinking.

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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.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Davidson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Davidson.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1914

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Released in 1921

Deputy U.S. Marshal Holmes Davidson 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 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 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious