Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff J. Edward Lee was shot and killed while attempting to arrest five men who were illegally riding atop a coal car.
He and two other deputies approached the men at Lexington Junction in Henrietta. When one of the deputies asked one of the men what was in his pocket the man produced a pistol and shot Deputy Lee before fleeing.
Deputy Lee was taken by train to St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City where he died several hours later.
The subject who shot him was believed to be the same subject who murdered Detective Sergeant Harry Lemkemeier of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department the previous day. He was shot and killed in October 1922 when detectives attempted to arrest him when he returned to St. Louis.
Deputy Lee served as a special officer with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-798F9629- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Lee served with the Ray County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Henrietta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lee.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Edward Lee 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Ray County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Edward Lee's cause is highlighted.
How John Edward Lee Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Edward Lee is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Edward Lee was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Ray County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
