Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John O'Brien was shot and killed by a man whom he attempted to arrest for stabbing the conductor aboard the Ohio and Mobile Passenger Train. The incident triggered one of the worst race riots in Mississippi's history, and practically destroyed Wahalak, a town of about 225 people in Kemper County.
The trouble started when a fight broke out between two men while the train was between Scooba and Wahalak. When the conductor attempted to separate the two combatants one of them attacked him with a knife. The conductor, who was mortally wounded, fired on his assailant, seriously wounding him and killing another man. When Wahalak was reached the suspect shot and instantly killed Constable O'Brien when he attempted to arrest him.
A mob of citizens pursued the suspect into a nearby woods where they captured and hanged him. Not being satisfied with his punishment, they later located and lynched his two sons and then lynched two more men. A riot broke out in Wahalak. Several buildings and homes were burned and a dozen men were killed. Governor Vardaman ordered the state militia to the scene. Shortly after their arrival law and order was restored.
Constable O'Brien your sacrifice will never be forgotten! Thank you for your dedicated service to the Citizens of and Kemper County! Continue to Rest in Peace. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of GOD." Matthew 5:9
Corporal Tony Dunn Mississippi Highway Patrol, Troop D December 24th, 2015
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- 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.
Constable O'Brien served with the Wahalak Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Scooba community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable O'Brien.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John O'Brien 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 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 O'Brien's cause is highlighted.
How John O'Brien Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John O'Brien is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John O'Brien was killed by gun; unknown type.