Norman Gray
Officer

Norman Gray

Peoria Police Department — Peoria, IL
Felonious
End of Watch January 24, 1916
The Vigil Panel 30 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Norman Gray was shot and killed by one of two robbery suspects he arrested on S.W. Washington Street. The two had committed 16 hold-ups in one night. As he was waiting for a patrol wagon one produced a pistol and shot him in the head. The 21-year-old killer was arrested and sentenced to life. He escaped from prison on May 16, 1924.

Survivors

Officer Gray was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-7901291A
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.
Officer Gray served with the Peoria Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Peoria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Gray.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Peoria, Peoria County, IL
Platform Identity ppd.peoria.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 24, 1916
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Officer Norman Gray 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Peoria Police Department, 9 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Peoria Police Department
9
of 15 officers
60% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Norman Gray Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Norman Gray is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Norman Gray was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909