Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer James McKeag was killed after being assaulted and thrown from the Pittsburgh, Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad trestle in East Pittsburgh.
He had attempted to serve a warrant on a man for stealing a horse and was pursuing him on foot. He caught the man on the trestle but was attacked by three of the man's friends, who had followed them. The group beat Officer McKeag with brass knuckles and the butt of a revolver before throwing him off of the trestle.
His body was found the following morning at approximately 7:00 am.
The case was initially ruled accidental, but in February 1903, a subject admitted to his involvement in the murder after being arrest following a barroom fight in East Pittsburgh. The other three subjects were arrested and all four were held on a true bill for murder.
Officer McKeag was survived by his wife and family.
Survivors
Officer McKeag was survived by his wife and family.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-606C1794- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer McKeag served with the Turtle Creek Borough Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Turtle Creek community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McKeag.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer James McKeag Jr. 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Turtle Creek Borough Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James McKeag Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James McKeag Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James McKeag Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Turtle Creek Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
