Roll of Honor
Incident
Acting Marshal Owen Kelly was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two brothers who were involved in a fight at the local saloon.
The subjects were drunk and resisted arrest. One pulled out his pistol and shot Marshal Kelly in the stomach. The shooter fled but was captured a mile away. The other brother was arrested at the saloon.
The sheriff put the subjects on the train, but a large crowd overtook the train, and the shooter was shot and killed. The other subject was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to six years.
Marshal Kelly was the acting Town Marshal, while his brother, the Town Marshal, was transporting a prisoner out of state.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-1DB03548- 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
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Acting Marshal Kelly served with the Warrior Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Warrior community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Acting Marshal Owen Kelly 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Warrior Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Owen Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How Owen Kelly Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed by mob and sentenced to six years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Owen Kelly is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Owen Kelly was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Warrior Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
