Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Matthew Samuels was shot and killed at approximately 10:00 am as he and two deputies served an arrest warrant at a home near Virgil, Kansas.
Three home occupants were taken into custody following the shooting, but the shooter barricaded himself in the home.
The man was taken into custody by the Kansas Highway Patrol SRT later in the night. During the arrest, the suspect fired several rounds at the team, striking their ballistic shields. The suspect who shot Sheriff Samuels was convicted of capital murder in October 2007 and sentenced to death. On August 24th, 2012, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned his conviction and ordered a new trial. The United States Supreme Court then upheld his original conviction and death sentence.
Sheriff Samuels had served with the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office for 21 years and had served as sheriff for five years.
Sheriff Samuels' father and grandfather had also served in law enforcement.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who works as a correctional officer, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-AF503306- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Samuels gave the Greenwood County Sheriff's Office 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Eureka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Samuels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Matthew Haden Samuels 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 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. Matthew Haden Samuels's cause is highlighted.
How Matthew Haden Samuels Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matthew Haden Samuels is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matthew Haden Samuels was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.