Robert King Vann
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Robert King Vann

Felonious
End of Watch September 27, 1889
Age 34
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Vann was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man. The suspect immediately opened fire with a shotgun, killing Deputy Vann. The suspect fled the scene but was shot and killed by a posse four hours later.

Survivors

Deputy Vann was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-5B4801ED
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

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Vann served with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL
Platform Identity jcso.jefferson.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 27, 1889
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff Robert King Vann 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 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 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
15
of 24 officers
62.5% Felonious
AL — Statewide
405
of 643 officers
63% 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. Robert King Vann's cause is highlighted.

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

How Robert King Vann Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert King Vann is highlighted in Sep.

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. Robert King Vann was killed by shotgun.

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