Incident
Officer Morgan was shot and killed when he responded to a robbery in progress call. The four suspects were exiting the store when he arrived at the scene. The suspects opened fire, striking Officer Morgan in the back several times, killing him. All four suspects, a father and son, 40 and 17, and two others, 18 and 24, were convicted of Officer Morgan's murder and sentenced to death. The sentences of all four were commuted to life in 1970. The 17-year-old was considered for parole in 1984 and was released at some point between 1984 and July 16, 1990, a date he was arrested in Alexandria, Louisiana, for possession of marijuana with intent to sell. His father died at his home a year later. So he was also released at some point before his death.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-AR-1803CF3F- Stewardship
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- 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.
Officer Morgan served with the Hughes Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Hughes community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Morgan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Jessie James Morgan 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jessie James Morgan's cause is highlighted.
How Jessie James Morgan Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentences commuted to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jessie James Morgan is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jessie James Morgan was killed by gun; unknown type.