Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Marshal

Joe Carson

Las Vegas Police Department — Las Vegas, NM

Felonious

End of Watch January 22, 1880

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Marshal Joe Carson was shot and killed by four drunk and rowdy cowboys inside a saloon. When told they needed to check their guns with the bartender, they instead hurled profane insults, drew their revolvers, and shot the marshal eight times. Marshal Carson's deputy returned fire killing one and seriously wounding another. The other two escaped.

Two weeks later a posse captured the other two cowboys and brought them to the Las Vegas Jail. An angry mob seized both men, along with the one who had been wounded, and hanged all three.

Marshal Carson was survived by his wife. He is buried in Glenwood Cemtery, Houston, Texas.

Survivors

Marshal Carson was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NM-3AC07071
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joe. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

146 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Marshal Carson served with the Las Vegas Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Las Vegas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Las Vegas Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Las Vegas, San Miguel County, NM

Platform Identity lvpd.sanmiguel.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 1880

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Marshal Joe Carson is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.

In NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 9.8 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.

Las Vegas Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NM — Statewide

123

of 193 officers

63.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joe Carson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,094 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How Joe Carson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Carson is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,516

May

1,504

Jun

1,442

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,517

Sep

1,491

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Carson was killed by handgun; revolver.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909