Ray Cunningham
Agency patch
Special Agent

Ray Cunningham

Felonious
End of Watch May 28, 1915
The Vigil Panel 30 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Kansas Weapon: Handgun Offender: Convicted of murder

Special Agent Ray Cunningham was shot and killed as he and two other San Francisco Railroad detectives confronted four transients on a train near Beaumont Junction, Kansas.

When the transients refused to close one of the boxcar doors, Agent Cunningham attempted to close it. As he did so, one of the men produced a handgun and shot him in the neck.

The shooter jumped off of the train but the other three men remained in the boxcar until the train stopped in Augusta, Kansas, where the three were arrested. The shooter was arrested a short time later at the Keighley Depot by the Keighley city marshal and two railroad detectives. He was convicted of murder by a coroner's jury the following day.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-367BACB3
Stewardship
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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.
Special Agent Cunningham served with the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Cunningham.

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

Agency

Location St. Louis, MI
Platform Identity slsfrpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 28, 1915
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Convicted of murder

Special Agent Ray Cunningham 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
MI — Statewide
426
of 718 officers
59.3% 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. Ray Cunningham'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 Ray Cunningham Compares

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Cunningham 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. Ray Cunningham was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location