John P. Jones
Agency patch
Police Officer

John P. Jones

Danville Police Department — Danville, VA
Felonious
End of Watch June 14, 1921
Age 35
Tour of Duty 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer John Jones was shot by a boobie trapped shotgun in a local shoe store on North Main Street.

Officer Jones was on night patrol when he noticed the door to the shop was partially ajar. When he opened the door to investigate, he was struck by a blast from a shotgun that had a string connecting the trigger to the door.

The owner of the store told investigators that he had set up the boobie trap to catch burglars who attempted to break into the store. The man was not charged in connection with Officer Jones' murder but was escorted out of town.

Officer Jones had served with the Danville Police Department for 6 months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-A35E48D6
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.
Police Officer Jones served with the Danville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Danville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Jones.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Danville, VA
Platform Identity dpd.danville.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 14, 1921
Tour of Duty 6 mo
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun

Police Officer John P. Jones 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Danville Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Danville Police Department
3
of 5 officers
60% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% 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 P. Jones's cause is highlighted.

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

How John P. Jones Compares

Age at Death
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John P. Jones 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 P. Jones was killed by shotgun.

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