James R. Gross

Ohio State Highway Patrol — Columbus, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 19, 1996

Age 27

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 142 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 41

Incident

Trooper James Gross was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Ashland on I-71. A truck driver had noticed a car driving erratically and contacted the police via CB. During the stop, Trooper Gross was shot once in his left arm. As he attempted to take cover, he slipped on the wet pavement and fell to the ground. The suspect shot him in the back as he lay on the ground. The round entered below his vest and traveled upwards through his torso. Other truckers who witnessed the shooting used their CB radios to notify authorities of the incident. The suspect was apprehended when he crashed into an embankment following a 29-mile chase. The ensuing investigation determined that the suspect had previously shot his mother in the foot. The 30-year-old suspect was initially sentenced to death. In 2005 his death sentence was commuted to life. He will be eligible for parole in June of 2044. Trooper Gross had served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 2 years. He was survived by his wife. A portion of Interstate 71 in Ashland County, between mileposts 189 and 191, has been dedicated and renamed the James R. Gross Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-3191BEEE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Gross gave the Ohio State Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Gross.

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

Agency

Department Ohio State Highway Patrol

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity oshp.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 1996

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentence commuted to life

Trooper James R. Gross 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Ohio State Highway Patrol, 8 of 42 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 19% of this agency's fallen.

Ohio State Highway Patrol

of 42 officers

19% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious