Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Lester Lanning and the justice of the peace were killed when they were struck in the back of the head with an axe while searching for a mentally disturbed man. The man then shot and killed himself. The man attacked them in the cellar of a house on the Greenville-Jamestown Road. Constable Lanning had served with the Pennsylvania State Constable - Mercer County eight ears. He was survived by his wife and child. Hehad just been elected to his third term as Constable for Greenville.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-088EE067- 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.
Constable Lanning gave the Pennsylvania State Constable 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mercer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Lanning.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Lester George Lanning 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lester George Lanning's cause is highlighted.
How Lester George Lanning Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lester George Lanning is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lester George Lanning was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Pennsylvania State Constable - Mercer County are honored on badge.nw.