Roll of Honor
Jesse Leroy Youmans
Incident
Federal Prohibition Agent Leroy Youmans was shot and killed by bootleggers near Hartsville, South Carolina. He and several other prohibition agents had located a still and hid nearby under the cover of darkness to wait for the moonshiners to arrive. When the suspects appeared and began working on the still one of the agents stepped on a twig, snapping, it while shifting his position. Upon hearing the noise, the moonshiners began searching the area. Agent Youmans stood up and announced the men were under arrest. One of the moonshiners shined a flashlight in his face, blinding him, and then fatally shot him. Six men were arrested at the scene. The 23-year-old gunman was found the next morning lying in a field. He had attempted to commit suicide by slashing his wrist. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He appealed, was awarded a new trial, and acquitted. The judge in the case reprimanded the jury, stating that he had never seen a jury do such a poor job. He said the prosecution provided evidence that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the suspect did murder Agent Youmans. The suspect was convicted of violating the prohibition law and sentenced to six years.
Survivors
Agent Youmans was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Federal Prohibition Agent Youmans served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Federal Prohibition Agent Youmans.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Federal Prohibition Agent Jesse Leroy Youmans 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit, 47 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jesse Leroy Youmans's cause is highlighted.
How Jesse Leroy Youmans Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jesse Leroy Youmans is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jesse Leroy Youmans was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
58 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Prohibition Unit are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
