J. F. Holmes
Sheriff

J. F. Holmes

Felonious
End of Watch April 26, 1877
Tour of Duty 3 mo
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff J.F. Holmes was shot and killed in Trinity while attempting to arrest a man wanted in several counties for murder and stealing horses.

The subject shot the unarmed Sheriff Holmes in the head, causing a fatal wound. Sheriff Holmes succumbed to the wound 15 days later.

The man who shot him was arrested by a posse in Polk County. The outcome of the trial is not known.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-EC9FF479
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew J.. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

149 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Holmes served with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Groveton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Groveton, Trinity County, TX
Platform Identity tcso.trinity.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1877
Tour of Duty 3 mo
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sheriff J. F. Holmes 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Trinity County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.

Trinity County Sheriff's Department
2
of 5 officers
40% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. J. F. Holmes's cause is highlighted.

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

How J. F. Holmes Compares

Years of Service
0.2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. F. Holmes is highlighted in Apr.

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. J. F. Holmes was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location