Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy John Martin was shot and killed as he and two other deputies searched a school for trespassers on Christmas Day.
A maintenance employee at the school did not recognize the deputies and mistook them for intruders. The man opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Martin, who died from the wounds two days later.
The maintenance employee was arrested and charged with murder.
Deputy Martin had served with the Davidson County Sheriff's Office for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-E7389286- 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 Martin gave the Davidson County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Martin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Benjamin Martin 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Davidson County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Benjamin Martin's cause is highlighted.
How John Benjamin Martin Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Benjamin Martin is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Benjamin Martin was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Davidson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
