James H. Black
Agency patch
Sheriff

James H. Black

Felonious
End of Watch November 16, 1884
Age 35
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Black was shot and killed after winning a hotly contested election for Sheriff two weeks earlier. The incumbent sheriff and two deputies helped a prisoner escape with the understanding that the prisoner would kill the sheriff-elect. The suspect went to Sheriff Black's house where he killed him. The incumbent sheriff and the two deputies were charged with murder. The escapee was later found dead.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5F9E7652
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

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Black served with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Paris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Paris, Lamar County, TX
Platform Identity lcso.lamar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1884
Tour of Duty
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Sheriff James H. Black 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 Lamar County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lamar County Sheriff's Office
4
of 4 officers
100% 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. James H. Black's cause is highlighted.

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

How James H. Black Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Black is highlighted in Nov.

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. James H. Black 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