Roll of Honor
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
- 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.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Justice of the Peace McGuffy Coomes 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. McGuffy Coomes's cause is highlighted.
How McGuffy Coomes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. McGuffy Coomes is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. McGuffy Coomes was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Grayson County Circuit Court are honored on badge.nw.