Roll of Honor
Incident
On May 14, 1885, 40 convicts escaped from a prison work camp. Sixteen of the convicts headed to Bryan to seize the powder magazine. On May 15 between 1 and 2 o'clock Bryan City Marshal A. B. Carr, deputy city marshals Levin P. Smith, Jr., and Levi Neal, and Brazos County Deputy Sheriff Robert Smith, brother of Levin, and Mr. J. P. Noll stationed themselves about one mile south of the city.
The convicts were all mounted on mules and heavily armed with guns and pistols, and when brought to a halt began firing immediately. Deputy City Marshal Levin P. Smith, Jr., was fatally shot, the ball entering the right breast and lodging under the left shoulder. Smith died almost instantly. Besides the fatal shot, another took off one of his fingers and the stock of his pistol. City Marshal A. B. Carr received several shots in his clothing and two shots in his hat, but without injury. It was reported that three of the convicts were seriously wounded. Nine convicts were indicted for the murder.
Smith was buried in the Wixon Cemetery in Brazos County next to his father who had died 5 weeks earlier.
Related information: On December 2, 1888, Smith's brother, Robert, who was later elected as a constable, accompanied Bryan City Marshal M. M. Wilcox and Deputy City Marshal Levi Neal to serve a warrant. City Marshal Wilcox was killed. Deputy City Marshal Levi Neal was himself killed on February 24, 1900 while walking a prisoner to the city jail.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy City Marshal Smith served with the Bryan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bryan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy City Marshal Levin P. Smith, 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Bryan Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Levin P. Smith, JR's cause is highlighted.
How Levin P. Smith, JR Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Levin P. Smith, JR is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Levin P. Smith, JR was killed by unknown weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Bryan Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
