Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Deputy Sonny Litch was shot and killed when he was ambushed by the half-brother of a prisoner he was returning from the hospital to the Mahoning County Jail. The subject rammed his own car into the back of Deputy Litch's car in front of Youngtown's central fire station. When Deputy Litch got out to investigate, the man shot him with a sawed-off shotgun. Both men escaped but were apprehended two days later. The 19-year-old man was originally sentenced to death, but the sentence was overturned, and he was then sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in January 2014. The subject's half-brother was also convicted of charges related to the incident and an unrelated murder charge. He died in prison on May 6th, 2007. Reserve Deputy Litch had served with the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office for four years and was also a captain with the Campbell Fire Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-CCCC0EA8- 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.
Reserve Deputy Litch gave the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Youngstown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Deputy Litch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Reserve Deputy John R. Litch Jr. 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. Litch Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John R. Litch Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Litch Jr. is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John R. Litch Jr. was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Mahoning County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.