James B. Evans

Riverside County Sheriff's Department — Riverside, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 9, 1980

Age 39

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Evans was shot and killed when he was ambushed by bank robbers during a pursuit. Several deputies had responded to a bank robbery call of several heavily armed men robbing a bank in Norco, California. A gunfight ensued in the parking lot in which one suspect was shot and killed, and several others fled the scene in a stolen car. The pursuit entered the Lytle Creek area of the San Bernardino mountains. The suspects suddenly stopped the car near the Stockton Flat Campground in the San Bernardino National Forest, and as Deputy Evans rounded a corner, they opened fire with M-16 rifles, killing him. The suspects then fled on foot. During the search for them, one was shot and killed, and three others were taken into custody. Deputy Evans was a United States Army Vietnam Veteran and had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and three stepchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-7CF1AFA3
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 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 Sheriff Evans gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Riverside County Sheriff's Department

Location Riverside, CA

Platform Identity rcso.riverside.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 1980

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; M-16

Offender Two shot and killed, three in custody

Military Service

James B. Evans served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff James B. Evans 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Riverside County Sheriff's Department, 12 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department

of 27 officers

44.4% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious