John F. Evans
Agency patch
Patrolman

John F. Evans

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Felonious
End of Watch August 6, 1885
Age 31
Tour of Duty 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Evans succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a man he had just witnessed punch another man outside of a saloon on 6th Street, between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Way. When Patrolman Evans rushed to the suspect to arrest him he was shot once in the stomach. The suspect fought with another Patrolman at the scene and shot the other Patrolman in the ear and then fled the scene to a nearby hotel. He was picked up 30 minutes later after a group of people who witnessed the shooting led other Pittsburgh Officers to him. Patrolman Evans was taken to a nearby hospital and then to his home where he succumbed to his wounds on the evening of August 6. The suspect was sentenced to death but committed suicide before the sentence was carried out.

Survivors

Patrolman Evans served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for six months and was survived by his parents, and siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-EB4FB86A
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

141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Evans served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Pittsburgh, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 6, 1885
Tour of Duty 6 mo
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber
Offender Committed suicide in jail

Patrolman John F. Evans 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
45
of 101 officers
44.6% Felonious
PA — Statewide
597
of 1,261 officers
47.3% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John F. Evans Compares

Age at End of Watch
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide in jail

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Evans is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Evans was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location