Roll of Honor
Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr.
Incident
Inspector Lambert was shot and killed while he and a Loudoun County deputy raided a still near Ashburn, Virginia, at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The two officers snuck up on the still and observed several men kneeling down next to several large barrels. Inspector Lambert called out to the men, but two of them fled the scene. The deputy began chasing one of the suspects and fired at him. The deputy heard several shots from the area of the still and stopped chasing the man to return to the scene.
When the deputy reached the still, he was unable to locate Inspector Lambert or any other suspects. Because Inspector Lambert had the key to their vehicle, he had to walk five miles back to Leesburg to alert the sheriff of the situation. The sheriff, along with several deputies and members of Inspector Lambert's family, returned to the scene and located Inspector Lambert's body with two gunshot wounds to the back.
Two suspects were arrested early in the morning at a nearby home, but the shooter fled the house and went to his home in Aldie. He was arrested there later in the day. The suspect was convicted of Inspector Lambert's murder on December 22, 1923, and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The deputy sheriff who was with Inspector Lambert was appointed by the state attorney general to replace him as prohibition inspector for Loudoun County on January 1, 1924.
Inspector Lambert had been appointed to the position only 11 months earlier.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, three daughters, parents, two sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-D87E9197- 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.
Inspector Lambert served with the Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Lambert.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr. 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement, 8 of 8 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. Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr. is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jefferson D. Lambert, Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Virginia Department of Prohibition Enforcement are honored on badge.nw.
