John S. Davis
Agency patch
Special Deputy Sheriff

John S. Davis

Hays County Sheriff's Office — San Marcos, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 8, 1913
Age 37
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Deputy Sheriff John Davis was stabbed to death while attempting to quell a disturbance at a dance near San Marcos.

Two men attacked him while he intervened. One of the men held him while the other stabbed him repeatedly. He succumbed to his wounds earlier the following morning.

One subject were convicted of his murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. The other subject was tried and acquitted.

Deputy Davis was survived by his wife and four small children. He was buried in the San Marcos Cemetery.

Survivors

Deputy Davis was survived by his wife and four small children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-8EB09AAC
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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Davis served with the Hays County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the San Marcos community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Davis.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location San Marcos, Hays County, TX
Platform Identity hcso.hays.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 8, 1913
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Special Deputy Sheriff John S. Davis 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Hays County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Hays County Sheriff's Office
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John S. Davis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John S. Davis Compares

Age at Death
37
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John S. Davis is highlighted in Jun.

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. John S. Davis was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909