Roll of Honor
John R. "Sonny" Litch, Jr.
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
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- 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.
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. "Sonny" Litch, Jr. 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 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 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. "Sonny" Litch, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How John R. "Sonny" Litch, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. "Sonny" Litch, Jr. is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John R. "Sonny" Litch, Jr. was killed by shotgun.