Roll of Honor

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Justice of the Peace

McGuffy Coomes

Grayson County Circuit Court — Independence, VA

Felonious

End of Watch May 17, 1925

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 49 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Justice of the Peace McGuffy Coomes was shot and killed as he, a state prohibition inspector, and the Galax police chief attempted to arrest a man for transporting illegal whiskey.

The officers, who were concealed behind a nearby barn, began approaching the subject as he got out of his car near his home in Galax at about 2:00 am. The man suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot the prohibition officer in the leg. He then fatally shot Justice Coomes before he was killed by return fire by one of the officers.

Justice Coomes was survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Justice Coomes was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-BC88267B
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.
Justice of the Peace Coomes served with the Grayson County Circuit Court.
Thank you for your service to the Independence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Justice of the Peace Coomes.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Grayson County Circuit Court

Location Independence, VA

Platform Identity gccc.grayson.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 1925

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Justice of the Peace McGuffy Coomes 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Grayson County Circuit Court

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. McGuffy Coomes's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How McGuffy Coomes Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. McGuffy Coomes is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. McGuffy Coomes was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518