Melvin A. Holt

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division — Saint Paul, MN

Felonious

End of Watch July 12, 1940

Age 55

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 17

Incident

Game Warden Melvin Holt, Game Warden Marcus Whipps, and Game Warden Dudley Brady were shot and killed while questioning a man about illegal fish shipments to Iowa. Warden Holt and Warden Brady had originally gone to the man's home in Waterville to question him, but the suspect ordered them off of the property and told them not to return without a warrant. The wardens returned with Warden Whipps, who asked the suspect to see his license to handle fish commercially. The man told them he would get it but returned with a 12 gauge shotgun and shot all three wardens, killing them all instantly. The man then committed suicide. Warden Holt had served with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-092852FE
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.
Game Warden Holt gave the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Holt.

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

Agency

Department Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division

Location Saint Paul, MN

Platform Identity mdnredcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 12, 1940

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Committed suicide

Game Warden Melvin A. Holt 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division, 5 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 27.8% of this agency's fallen.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Enforcement Division

of 18 officers

27.8% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious